OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL COORDINATOR

FOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES OFCM AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH

FCM-P1-2015

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Federal Plan

for Meteorological Services

and Supporting Research

Fiscal Year 2016

A Half-Century of Multi-Agency Collaboration
THE FEDERAL COMMITTEE FOR

METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH (FCMSSR)

DR. KATHRYN SULLIVAN

Chair, Department of Commerce

DR. TAMARA DICKINSON

Office of Science and Technology Policy

DR. SETH MEYER

Department of Agriculture

MR. MANSON K. BROWN

Department of Commerce

MR. EARL WYATT

Department of Defense

DR. GERALD GEERNAERT

Department of Energy

DR. REGINALD BROTHERS

Science and Technology Directorate

Department of Homeland Security

DR. JERAD BALES

Department of the Interior

MR. KENNETH HODGKINS

Department of State

MR. BENJAMIN PAGE (Observer)

Office of Management and Budget

MR. EDWARD L. BOLTON, JR.

Department of Transportation

MR. DAVID L. MILLER

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Department of Homeland Security

MR. JOHN GRUNSFELD

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

DR. ROGER WAKIMOTO

National Science Foundation

MR. PAUL MISENCIK

National Transportation Safety Board

MR. GLENN TRACY

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

DR. JENNIFER ORME-ZAVALETA

Environmental Protection Agency

COL PAUL ROELLE (Acting)

Federal Coordinator for Meteorology

MR. MICHAEL BONADONNA, Secretariat

Office of the Federal Coordinator for

Meteorological Services and Supporting Research

THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR

METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH (ICMSSR)

COL PAUL ROELLE, Chair (Acting)

Federal Coordinator for Meteorology

MR. MARK BRUSBERG

Department of Agriculture

DR. LOUIS UCCELLINI

National Weather Service

Department of Commerce

DR. STEPHEN VOLZ

NOAA Satellite and Information Service

Department of Commerce 

CRAIG MCLEAN

Oceanic and Atmospheric Research

Department of Commerce 

RADM TIMOTHY C. GALLAUDET

United States Navy

Department of Defense

MR. SCOTT LIVEZEY

United States Navy

Department of Defense

MR. RALPH STOFFLER

United States Air Force

Department of Defense

MR. RICKEY PETTY

Department of Energy

DR. VAUGHN STANDLEY

Department of Energy 

MR. JOEL WALL

Science and Technology Directorate

Department of Homeland Security

DR. WILLIAM LEITH

Department of the Interior

DR. RAYMOND SAUVAJOT

Department of the Interior

MR. JOHN VIMONT

Department of the Interior

MR. PAUL FONTAINE

Federal Aviation Administration

Department of Transportation

MR. MARK KEHRLI

Federal Highway Administration

Department of Transportation

DR. JONATHAN M. BERKSON

United States Coast Guard

Department of Homeland Security

DR. DAVID R. REIDMILLER

Department of State

DR. ROHIT MATHUR

Environmental Protection Agency

MR. ROY WRIGHT

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Department of Homeland Security

DR. JACK KAYE

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

MR. STEVEN CLARKE

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

DR. PAUL B. SHEPSON

National Science Foundation

MR. DONALD E. EICK

National Transportation Safety Board

MR. SCOTT FLANDERS

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

MR. MICHAEL CLARK

Office of Management and Budget

MR. MICHAEL BONADONNA, Secretariat

Office of the Federal Coordinator for

Meteorological Services and Supporting Research
The Federal Plan for 

Meteorological 

Services and 

Supporting Research 

FISCAL YEAR 2016

FEDERAL COORDINATOR FOR METEOROLOGICAL 

SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH 

Silver Spring Metro Center, Building 2 (SSMC 2)

1325 East West Highway, Suite 7130

Silver Spring, MD 20910 

301.628.0112

FCM-P1-2015 Editor: Mr. Anthony Ramirez

September 2015 Assistant: Ms. Erin McNamara

WASHINGTON, D.C. Assistant: Mr. Kenneth Barnett

 

PREFACE

This edition of the Federal Plan for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research marks the 

beginning of a new era in Federal meteorological coordination and the Office of the Federal 

Coordinator for Meteorology (OFCM). As stated by Mr. Samuel P. Williamson in the preface to 

the document The Federal Role in Meteorological Services and Supporting Research – A Half 

Century of Multi-Agency Collaboration:

“...the federal meteorological enterprise is poised to continue delivering ever greater 

value in meeting the Nation’s changing needs for meteorological and climatological 

services and products.”

“...I look forward to the next half-century of challenges for OFCM. With the nation’s 

continued support, we will strive to surpass the remarkable record set during our first 

half-century.”

2015 has been a year of great change for many of the partners of the federal meteorological 

enterprise. Several organizations, including the OFCM, are undergoing substantial 

reorganization. As part of this transition, Mr. David McCarren accepted a temporary 

appointment from the CNMOC to serve as Acting Federal Coordinator for over eight months.

During that time, we conducted a broad survey of the organizations participating in the Federal 

Coordinating Infrastructure to gather input to inform decisions regarding the future direction of 

OFCM. With strong leadership and support from the Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans 

and Atmosphere, Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, the Federal Committee for Meteorological Services and 

Supporting Research (FMCSSR) met for the first time in over ten years. Interdepartmental 

Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (IMCSSR) later met to 

approve substantial changes to the Federal Coordinating Infrastructure. As a result, the ICMSSR

deactivated all four Program Councils and assumed responsibility for all executive-level

coordination within the Federal Coordinating Infrastructure. This action also reduced the number 

of subordinate Committees, Working Groups, and Joint Action Groups by 35%.

Amid all this change, the 15 agencies of the Federal Coordinating Infrastructure continue to 

work together toward common goals in a number of important areas. 

The Committee for Operational Environmental Satellites is working to improve interagency 

communication and coordination of matters regarding the use of environmental satellites. In 

2015 they documented broad Federal agency support and needs for international cooperation to 

cover environmental satellite data coverage of the Indian Ocean and continued night visible 

imagery from the NOAA polar orbiting satellites. In data-related work, the Satellite Telemetry 

Interagency Working Group (STIWG) has been reintegrated in the federal Coordinating 

infrastructure to heighten agency awareness of the Geostationary Operational Environmental 

Satellite (GOES) Data Collection System (DCS) and opportunities for data sharing and 

collaboration. 

iv
OFCM continues to play a critical role in supporting cooperation through the Committee for 

Operational Processing Centers and its subordinate working groups. Establishment of a new 

information security-compliant communications infrastructure has been a top priority.

We will continue to plan, organize, and host the Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference to 

share information and prepare for next year’s hurricane season, including publishing the 2016

National Hurricane Operations Plan. The Working Group for Tropical Cyclone Research is 

working to complete a mid-course assessment of progress in achieving our strategic research 

plan for tropical cyclones.

We are also eager to see the proof of concept system under development for dual-polarization 

phased array radar and the possibility to move forward with a full-scale Advanced Technology 

Demonstrator for Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR). MPAR represents a potential 

breakthrough in economy across a number of radar applications. 

Remarkable change and progress has been made in the area of Space Weather planning and 

interagency coordination. The National Space Weather Program continues to support the annual 

Space Weather Enterprise Forum in Washington DC and the new National Space Weather 

Strategy and Action Plans to be published in fiscal year (FY) 2016.

This is also an exciting time for discovering, acquiring, and employing new data streams from 

satellites, unmanned aircraft systems, and networks of observing networks across the country—

all of which will be addressed through our interagency coordinating groups in the coming year.

This edition of the Federal Plan provides additional information on these topics as well as much 

more information about activities across the agencies. It provides Congress and the Executive 

Branch with a review of agency programs and activities in FY 2015, a comprehensive account of 

proposed programs for FY 2016, and an outlook for future investment. The Federal Plan's 

narratives, timelines, and schedules are current as of September 2015. 

I extend my thanks to our agency partners and their staffs for their dedicated efforts to contribute 

to this important document.

Paul A. Roelle, Colonel, PhD, USAF

Federal Coordinator for Meteorological

Services and Supporting Research (Acting)

v
Table of Contents

PREFACE..............................................................................................................iv

SECTION 1 AGENCY FUNDING FOR METEOROLOGICAL OPERATIONS AND 

SUPPORTING RESEARCH ..................................................................................................................1-1

AGENCY BUDGET SUMMARIES..............................................................................1-1

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE........................................................................1-1

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE/NATIONAL OCEANIC AND AMOSPHERIC 

ADMINISTRATION ..........................................................................................................................1-2

National Weather Service .............................................................................................................1-2

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Services..............................................1-4

Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research..............................................................................1-8

National Ocean Service.................................................................................................................1-9

Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.................................................................................1-10

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE........................................................................................................1-10

U.S. Air Force.............................................................................................................................1-10

U.S. Army...................................................................................................................................1-12

U.S. Navy....................................................................................................................................1-13

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY..............................................................................1-17

U.S. Coast Guard ........................................................................................................................1-17

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR..............................................................................................1-17

Bureau of Land Management......................................................................................................1-17

National Park Service .................................................................................................................1-18

U.S. Geological Survey...............................................................................................................1-18

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION .....................................................................................1-19

Federal Aviation Administration ................................................................................................1-19

Federal Highway Administration................................................................................................1-19

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.............................................................................1-20

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION ..............................................1-20

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION .................................................................................1-22

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.........................................................................................................1-23

DEPARTMENT OF STATE.............................................................................................................1-24

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION .....................................................................................................1-24

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION..........................................................................................1-24

vi
BUDGET TABLES

Table 1 Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research Costs by Agency .......................1-25

Table 2 Operational Costs by Budget Category..........................................................................1-26

Table 3 Supporting Research and Development Costs by Budget Category..............................1-27

Service Category Definitions.......................................................................................1-28

Table 4 Operational Costs by Service Category .........................................................................1-30

Table 5 Supporting Research and Development Costs by Service Category .............................1-30

Table 6 Personnel Supporting Meteorological Operations and Research...................................1-31

Table 7 Interagency Fund Transfers...........................................................................................1-31

Table 8 Facilities/Locations/Systems Taking Meteorological Observations..............................1-33

SECTION 2: FEDERAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH 

PROGRAMS .........................................................................................................................................2-1

FEDERAL COORDINATION AND PLANNING FOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND 

SUPPORTING RESEARCH ..................................................................................................................2-3

STATUTORY BASIS FOR THE FEDERAL COORDINATION PROCESS...................................2-3

OFCM COORDINATING INFRASTRUCTURE..............................................................................2-4

OFCM HIGHLIGHTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 AND PLANS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016.........2-6

Activities Reporting to the Federal Coordinator

Support for Plans and Analyses Mandated by the COASTAL Act of 2012.................................2-6

Programs and Mission Areas

National Aviation Weather Program ............................................................................................2-6

National Operational Processing Centers .....................................................................................2-7

National Space Weather Program.................................................................................................2-7

Multifunction Phased Array Radar...............................................................................................2-8

Committees, Working Groups, and Joint Action Groups....................................................................2-9

Committee for Operational Processing Centers............................................................................2-9

Working Group for Cooperative Support and Backup ....................................................2-9

Working Group for Observational Data ..........................................................................2-9

Joint Action Group for Centralized Communications Management..............................2-10

Committee for Operational Environmental Satellites.................................................................2-10

Working Group for Hurricane and Winter Storms Operations and Research and 

Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference.......................................................................2-10

Working Group for Disaster Impact Assessments and Plans: Weather and Water Data......

.......................................................................................................................................2-12

Working Group for Volcanic Ash..................................................................................2-13

Atmospheric Transport and Dispersion (ATD) ............................................................2-13

Committee for Observing Systems and Services........................................................................2-13

vii
Joint Action Group for Unmanned Aerial Systems.......................................................2-14

Committee for Cooperative Research.........................................................................................2-14

Working Group for Tropical Cyclone Research............................................................2-14

Working Group for Weather Information for Surface Transportation ..........................2-15

Meteorological Codes....................................................................................................2-15

OFCM External Coordination ...........................................................................................................2-16

Executive Office of the President ...............................................................................................2-16

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)...................................................................2-16

Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)........................................................2-16

NAS/NRC Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate .............................................2-16

American Meteorological Society .................................................................................2-16

FY 2015 OFCM PUBLICATIONS...................................................................................................2-17

BASIC SERVICES ................................................................................................................................2-19

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES..............................2-19

NOAA/National Weather Service...............................................................................................2-19

NOAA/National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service .................................2-22

NOAA/Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.....................................................................2-27

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Basic Meteorological Services......................2-29

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS........................................................2-29

Interagency Collaborative Research Programs and Projects ......................................................2-29

NOAA/National Weather Service/Environmental Modeling Center..........................................2-31

NOAA/ National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service ................................2-32

NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research ..............................................................2-33

NASA Supporting Research for Basic Meteorological Services................................................2-44

National Science Foundation ......................................................................................................2-47

AGRICULTURAL AND LAND MANAGEMENT METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES ..............2-49

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES..............................2-49

Interagency Programs .................................................................................................................2-49

U.S. Department of Agriculture..................................................................................................2-49

Department of Interior ................................................................................................................2-54

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS........................................................2-55

U.S. Department of Agriculture..................................................................................................2-55

AVIATION SERVICES ........................................................................................................................2-57

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES..............................2-57

Interagency Collaborative Operational Products and Services...................................................2-57

NOAA/National Weather Service...............................................................................................2-62

Federal Aviation Administration ................................................................................................2-64

viii
SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS........................................................2-74

The National Airspace System of the Future..............................................................................2-74

FAA Interagency Planning Office .................................................................................2-75

FAA NextGen Office.....................................................................................................2-75

FAA AWG and AWSD Roles in NextGen Transition ..................................................2-75

The NAS Infrastructure Portfolio ..................................................................................2-77

NOAA/National Weather Service...............................................................................................2-78

NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research ...............................................................2-78

Federal Aviation Administration ................................................................................................2-80

CLIMATE SERVICES .........................................................................................................................2-89

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES..............................2-89

NOAA/National Weather Service...............................................................................................2-89

NOAA/NESDIS/National Climatic Data Center........................................................................2-90

NOAA/Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.....................................................................2-92

United States Air Force...............................................................................................................2-93

United States Navy .....................................................................................................................2-94

United States Geological Survey ................................................................................................2-96

Department of State ....................................................................................................................2-96

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS........................................................2-98

Interagency Collaborative Research Programs and Projects ......................................................2-98

NOAA/NESDIS/ National Centers for Environmental Information/Center for Weather and 

Climate...........................................................................................................................2-99

National Centers for Environmental Information / Center for Coasts, Oceans, and

Geophysics...................................................................................................................2-100

NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research .............................................................2-101

Laboratories and Programs..........................................................................................2-102

Department of Agriculture/National Institute of Food and Agriculture ...................................2-108

United States Geological Survey .............................................................................................2-109

National Aeronautics and Space Administration......................................................................2-111

Department of Energy/Office of Science..................................................................................2-115

National Science Foundation ....................................................................................................2-116

EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND HOMELAND SECURITY SERVICES..................................2-119

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES............................2-119

Federal Emergency Management Agency ................................................................................2-119

U.S. Coast Guard ......................................................................................................................2-121

Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center ...................................................2-122

NOAA/National Weather Service.............................................................................................2-123

ix
NOAA/National Ocean Service................................................................................................2-124

NOAA/Office of Marine and Aviation Operations...................................................................2-126

United States Air Force.............................................................................................................2-126

United States Navy ...................................................................................................................2-127

U.S. Marine Corps....................................................................................................................2-128

U.S. Geological Survey.............................................................................................................2-129

Department of Energy...............................................................................................................2-130

Nuclear Regulatory Commission..............................................................................................2-131

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS......................................................2-131

NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research ............................................................2-131

Department of Energy...............................................................................................................2-133

Nuclear Regulatory Commission..............................................................................................2-133

HYDROMETEOROLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES SERVICES ........................................2-135

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES............................2-135

Interagency Collaborative Programs and Products...................................................................2-135

NOAA/National Weather Service.............................................................................................2-136

NOAA/Office of Marine and Aviation Operations...................................................................2-140

U.S. Department of Agriculture................................................................................................2-140

U.S Army Corps of Engineers..................................................................................................2-141

U.S. Geological Survey.............................................................................................................2-142

Nuclear Regulatory Commission..............................................................................................2-142

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS......................................................2-143

NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research .............................................................2-143

Department of Agriculture........................................................................................................2-145

Nuclear Regulatory Commission..............................................................................................2-146

MILITARY SERVICES......................................................................................................................2-147

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES............................2-147

U.S. Air Force, Operational Organizations...............................................................................2-147

Air Force Products and Services..................................................................................2-152

U.S. Army, Weather Support Structure ....................................................................................2-155

Army Products and Services........................................................................................2-158

U.S. Navy, Operational Organizations .....................................................................................2-158

Navy Products and Services.........................................................................................2-164

U.S. Marine Corps, Operational Organizations........................................................................2-167

Marine Corps Products and Services...........................................................................2-171

U.S. Coast Guard ......................................................................................................................2-172

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS......................................................2-173

x
National Unified Operational Prediction Capability Research Partnering Initiative ................2-173

U.S. Air Force Supporting Research Programs and Projects....................................................2-173

U.S. Army Supporting Research Programs and Projects..........................................................2-175

U.S. Navy Supporting Research Programs and Projects ..........................................................2-179

SPACE WEATHER SERVICES........................................................................................................2-181

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES............................2-181

NOAA/National Weather Service.............................................................................................2-181

U.S. Air Force...........................................................................................................................2-182

U.S. Geological Survey.............................................................................................................2-185

Federal Emergency Management Agency ................................................................................2-186

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS......................................................2-186

NOAA/National Weather Service.............................................................................................2-186

U.S. Air Force...........................................................................................................................2-187

U.S. Geological Survey.............................................................................................................2-188

National Aeronautics and Space Administration......................................................................2-188

Department of Energy...............................................................................................................2-189

National Science Foundation ....................................................................................................2-190

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.................................................................................2-191

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES............................2-191

NOAA/National Weather Service.............................................................................................2-191

NOAA/National Ocean Service................................................................................................2-192

U.S. Coast Guard ......................................................................................................................2-195

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS......................................................2-196

DOT/Federal Highway Administration ....................................................................................2-196

DOT/Federal Railroad Administration .....................................................................................2-201

NOAA/National Ocean Service................................................................................................2-201

WILDLAND FIRE WEATHER SERVICES....................................................................................2-203

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES............................2-203

Interagency Collaborative Programs and Products...................................................................2-203

Fire Weather Services in the National Coordination Structure for Wildland Fire

Management..............................................................................................................................2-203

NOAA/National Weather Service.............................................................................................2-205

USDA/U.S. Forest Service .......................................................................................................2-206

U.S. Geological Survey.............................................................................................................2-208

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS......................................................2-209

USDA/U.S. Forest Service .......................................................................................................2-209

National Aeronautics and Space Administration......................................................................2-210

xi
OTHER SPECIALIZED SERVICES ................................................................................................2-213

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES............................2-213

National Aeronautics and Space Administration......................................................................2-213

U.S. Air Force Space Launch Support......................................................................................2-216

U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command ...................................................................2-217

National Park Service/Fish and Wildfire Service .....................................................................2-218

Nuclear Regulatory Commission..............................................................................................2-219

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS......................................................2-219

U.S. Army.................................................................................................................................2-219

National Park Service ...............................................................................................................2-220

National Aeronautics and Space Administration......................................................................2-220

Environmental Protection Agency............................................................................................2-221

APPENDIX A - ACRONYMS ...............................................................................................................A-1

Inside Back Cover – Agency Points of Contact

xii
xiii
SECTION 1

AGENCY FUNDING FOR METEOROLOGICAL OPERATIONS AND 

SUPPORTING RESEARCH

AGENCY BUDGET SUMMARIES

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

The Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) budget request for FY 2016 is $75.1 million for operations 

and supporting research, a 0.1% increase from the FY 2015 funding level. The increase in funding is in 

the area of supporting research and costs, offsetting a decline in meteorological operations. USDA 

staffing levels dropped nearly 10%, from 111 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (including 8 

contractors) to 100 (including 6 contractors). USDA has requested $55.2 million for research and 

development programs, an increase of less than $300,000 (0.5%) from 2015. For the National Institute 

for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), funding for Weather and Climate from FY 2015 through FY 2016 

President’s Budget remains at about $33 million, with continuing support for existing AFRI multi-year 

(continuation) awards and other AFRI awards with a Weather and Climate component. A slight 

decrease is expected for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the USDA’s principal in-house 

scientific research agency. ARS conducts research on how to cope with annual variations of weather 

on crop and animal production, ecosystem services, and the environmental and economic sustainability 

of agricultural enterprises. Funding is also decreased for the Forest Service (FS) in the area of 

Wildland Fire Weather. The research and development mission of the Forest Service is to develop and 

deliver knowledge and innovative technology to improve the health and use of the Nation’s forests and 

grasslands. Research at the Forest Service includes studies of the long-term effects of air pollution on 

forests and water resources. The Forest Service is also the world leader in developing emissions factors 

from fires and modeling its dispersion. 

The FY 2016 amount requested for meteorological operations is just under $20.0 million, down 

slightly (0.7%) from the $20.1 million funding level in FY 2015. Operational activities include 

specialized weather observing networks such as the SNOTEL (SNOw pack TELemetry) network 

RESOURCE INFORMATION AND AGENCY PROGRAM UPDATES

The narratives and tables in this section summarize the budgetary information for the Federal government 

for fiscal years (FY) 2015 and 2016. A narrative outlook for FY 2017 is also provided where possible. 

The funds shown are used to provide meteorological services and associated supporting research with 

service improvements as their immediate objectives. Fiscal data are current as of the end of September 

2015 and are subject to later changes. The data for FY 2016 do not have legislative approval and do not 

constitute a commitment by the United States Government. The budget data are prepared in compliance 

with Section 304 of Public Law 87-843, in which Congress directed that an annual horizontal budget be 

prepared for meteorological programs conducted by the Federal agencies.

1-1
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

operated by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Snow Survey and Water Supply 

Forecasting program (SSWSF) and the Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS) network 

managed by the Forest Service. The SNOTEL and RAWS networks provide cooperative data for 

NOAA’s river forecast activities, irrigation water supply estimates, and Bureau of Land Management 

operations. The SSWSF program, managed by the NRCS National Water and Climate Center, provides 

western states and Alaska with information on future water supplies. The Forest Service uses 

meteorological data and interpretation skills data for decision making regarding wildland fire 

management. The meteorological staff of the Office of the Chief Economist’s World Agricultural 

Outlook Board (OCE/WAOB) routinely collects global weather data and agricultural information to 

assess the impact of growing season weather conditions on crops and livestock production prospects, 

keeping USDA commodity analysts, the Chief Economist, and the Secretary of Agriculture and top 

staff well informed of weather impacts on crops and livestock worldwide. The Risk Management 

Agency (RMA) provides administration and oversight of programs authorized under the Federal Crop 

Insurance Act. RMA’s Strategic Data Acquisition and Analyses (SDAA) unit works with Oregon State 

University’s Parameter-Elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) Climate Group 

to develop and utilize spatial climate data sets to detect potential waste, fraud and abuse in the Federal 

crop insurance program and to assist underwriting in developing crop suitability mapping.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE/NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC 

ADMINISTRATION

National Weather Service

The National Weather Service (NWS) funding request for the FY 2016 President’s Budget totals $1.10 

billion and 4,540 full-time equivalents (FTE). This is a 1.1% funding increase over the FY 2015 

Enacted. The NWS (http://www.weather.gov/) provides weather, water, and climate forecasts and 

warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters, and ocean areas for the protection of life 

and property and the enhancement of the national economy 24 hours every day. NWS is the sole, 

official and authoritative U.S. voice for issuing warnings during life-threatening weather situations. In 

FY 2017, NWS will continue to develop the next generation probabilistic hazard information 

paradigm, and a fully integrated field structure delivering consistent products and services. NWS will 

continue to sustain and enhance infrastructure for observations, facilities, and information technology.

Significant requested increases and decreases in funding over the FY 2015 program include the 

following:

• Space Weather. NOAA requests an increase of $2.5 million for a total of $4.9 million to support 

Research to Operations (R2O) and operational activities for space weather research observation 

systems and numerical model development. This enables NOAA to effectively utilize existing solar 

observations while developing an expanded suite of space weather numerical models.

• National Mesonet. NOAA requests a decrease of $10.5 million for a total $5.5 million. The request 

restores National Mesonet Network funding to levels included in the FY 2015 President’s Budget 

and maintains support for the national Mesonet program which was created in 2014. NOAA is 

using congressionally directed FY 2015 appropriations, to continue to ingest data from mesonets, 

which can identify small scale features at the surface, such as changes in wind speed/direction, 

temperature, and pressure, each of which can indicate rapidly deteriorating weather conditions not 

shown by other observations.

1-2
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

• Establishment of Regional Enterprise Application Development and Integration Teams. NOAA 

requests a decrease of $10.1 million for a total of $2.5 million to reflect the significant efficiencies 

that can be achieved by transition to a new information technology (IT) service delivery model for 

the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast offices. NWS will create regionalized IT 

collaboration teams enabling higher consistency of service delivery in support of NWS’ mission.

• Weather Forecast Office Maintenance. NOAA requests an increase of $1.0 million for a total of 

$7.6 million to restore WFO Maintenance funding to recent historical funding levels.

• Enhance Water Predication Capability. NOAA requests an increase of $4.0 million for a total of 

$9.5 million to expand NWS’ hydrologic forecast services to provide improved flood forecasts and 

inundation mapping. This will enable NWS to develop and test new centralized national hydrologic 

modeling and forecast capabilities at the National Water Center (NWC). Centralized water 

modeling will improve efficiency and consistency in the hydrologic forecast process, apply to all 

water conditions, and provide predictions on a high resolution grid.

• National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program Grants. NOAA requests a decrease of $6.0 

million for a total of $8.7 million. This reduction eliminates NOAA’s partner funding for education 

and awareness grant programs through the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program 

(NTHMP). NOAA is not seeking to terminate NTHMP with this action. NOAA will continue to 

fund critical tsunami program components in order to ensure timely and accurate tsunami 

warnings, watches and advisories.

• Improving Mid-Range Operational Weather Outlooks. NOAA requests a total increase of $9.0 

million for a total of $9.0 million to extend outlooks out through weeks three and four (mid-range).

Initial actions will focus on gaining skill in weeks three and four, where none exists today by 

designing, developing, implementing and operating the “skillful” multi-model coupled earth 

system modeling system. Addressing this challenge will require a sustained scientific research and 

research-to-operations efforts. This initiative will ultimately allow NOAA to provide for 30 day 

operational weather and water outlooks and longer lead severe storm outlooks. 

• Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) Service Life Extension Program (SLEP). NOAA 

requests a planned increase of $7.4 million for a total of $16.7 million and to continue 

implementation of a SLEP to sustain the aging NEXRAD infrastructure that underpins severe 

weather forecast and warning services for high-impact events critical for a Weather-Ready Nation.

This is a multi-year effort that began in FY 2015 and is anticipated to be completed in 2022.

• Sustain Weather and Climate Supercomputing. NOAA requests an increase of $1.8 million and 

for a total of $44.2 million for the continued procurement and operations and maintenance (O&M) 

of NOAA’s Weather and Climate Operational Supercomputing System (WCOSS).

• Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System II Extended. NOAA requests a decrease of 

$1.5 million for a total of $20.1 million for AWIPS Technology Infusion. NOAA proposes to slow 

development and implementation of new tools and capabilities aimed at achieving the NWS Future 

Forecast Office operations.

• Dissemination Infrastructure. NOAA requests an increase of $9.7 million for a total of $9.7 

million to upgrade network capabilities to reduce single points of failure and increase website 

capacity to NWS Field Offices. This will provide NWS Field Offices with reliable communication 

networks and robust websites reducing risk to mission operations during severe weather events.

• Ground Readiness Project. NOAA requests an increase of $1.4 million and for a total of $19.6 

million and to ensure NWS is prepared to utilize the substantial increase in environmental satellite, 

radar, and model data that will improve weather warnings and forecasts which will come once 

GOES-R becomes operational. In FY 2016, NWS will perform network enhancements at field 

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offices, test GOES-R operations, test new products, and continue to build-out NWS networks all in 

advance of the GOES-R launch and during and after the FY 2015/2016 WCOSS upgrade.

• Re-architected NWS Telecommunications Gateway. NWS requests a planned reduction of $10.1 

million for a total of $10.8 million to reflect the planned completion in FY 2017 of a re-architected

NWS Telecommunications Gateway (NWSTG) at the primary and backup site. The re-architected 

NWSTG capability will ensure modern, scalable, extensible and reliable dissemination and 

infrastructure services using current best practices.

• Weather Forecast Office (WFO) and River Forecast Center (RFC) Relocations. NOAA requests 

an increase of $4.7 million for a total of $8.7 million to continue investments that provide tenant 

improvements (TI) and support costs associated with WFO and RFC relocations as well as 

structural repairs due to unacceptable conditions at leased and owned facilities that could impact 

operations.

• National Reconditioning Center/National Logistics Supply Center Relocation. NOAA requests a 

decrease of $8.1 million for a total of $0 for the planned completion of the NRC/NLSC relocation 

in Kansas City, Missouri.

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Services

The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Services (NESDIS) funding request for 

the FY 2016 President’s Budget totals $2.38 billion and 885 FTE. This is a 7.0% increase over the FY 

2015 Enacted. Looking into FY 2017, NESDIS will support key initiatives committed to providing 

real-time operations and data services as well as working toward developing the next generation of 

satellites to continue meeting its primary mission essential functions without incurring gaps in 

coverage.

NESDIS is responsible for managing all aspects of remotely gathered environmental data. This 

includes procurement, launch, operation, product development, and product distribution of the 

Nation’s civil operational environmental satellites and corresponding data. In addition, NESDIS 

manages the NOAA environmental data collections, provides assessments that describe climate, and 

disseminates data and information to meet the needs of users in commerce, industry, agriculture, 

science, and engineering, as well as federal, state, and local governments.

As authorized in the Consolidated and Further Appropriations Act, 2015, NOAA restructured NESDIS 

Operations, Research, and Facilities (ORF) and Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction (PAC) 

account Programs, Projects, and Activities (PPA). The new budget structure strengthens both the 

satellite and data management sides of NESDIS and better coordinates systems engineering and 

common ground services.

Significant requested increases and decreases in funding over the FY 2015 program include the 

following:

• Satellite and Product Operations: Data Center Operations (DCO). NOAA requests an increase of 

$4.6 million for a total of $10.1 million to operate and maintain the Comprehensive Large ArrayData Stewardship System (CLASS). These funds will transition the CLASS system from a test and 

development environment to full operations. CLASS provides NOAA with required long-term safe 

archival storage capacity and provides the general public with access to the preserved 

climatological, oceanographic, and geophysical data. The FY 2016 request is necessary to provide 

the operations and maintenance (O&M) for the core capabilities of CLASS, including;

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 Maintenance support for the operational software and hardware;

 Meeting all security requirements;

 Technical training to keep operators’ skill levels current; and

 Data analytics, data compression, data translation, and reprocessing of archival data

• Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs (CRSRA). NOAA requests an increase of $0.2 

million for a total of $1.2 million to enforce and ensure compliance with terms of new satellite 

license agreements. The Nation requires a consistent and transparent regulatory process for 

licensing private remote sensing space systems in order to promote U.S. technological 

competitiveness and economic security, while ensuring satellite operation is consistent with our 

national security, intelligence, and foreign policy needs. The CRSRA program supports these 

requirements while furthering the Nation’s homeland security and national security missions. 

• Office of Space Commercialization (OSC). NOAA requests an increase of $0.4 million for a total 

of $1.0 million to improve coordination between government and industry on space-related issues 

and increase opportunities for commercial solutions for NOAA and other civil government data 

acquisition requirements. OSC, managed by NOAA for DOC, is responsible for developing spacerelated policies and the promotion of the capabilities of the U.S. commercial space industry with 

foreign countries. 

• National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI): Big Earth Data Initiative. NOAA 

requests an increase of $1.1 million for a total of $2.0 million to render NOAA’s environmental 

data holdings more accessible and useful to other U.S. Agencies and the Nation. These funds will 

support the Big Earth Data Initiative (BEDI), further enabling easy, open, and transparent access to 

NOAA’s weather, climate, oceanographic, and geophysical data and derived environmental 

information. These data and information directly contribute to the Nation’s management of its 

environmental resources and support a broad range of environmental intelligence applications.

Funding will directly contribute to modernizing search, discovery and access methods; the 

provision of descriptive information for all data and information products; and support for the 

services necessary to transform NOAA’s data into machine readable information. Several other 

U.S. Agencies with substantial earth data holdings (e.g. National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration (NASA), Department of Interior (DOI), Department of Energy (DOE), United 

States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Defense (DOD), and others) are also 

engaged in coordinated, parallel efforts under BEDI.

• GOES-R. NESDIS requests a decrease of $109.0 million for a total of $871.8 million to continue 

satellite engineering development, production, integration, and launch activities for the foursatellite GOES-R Series Program to deliver required operational capabilities through 2036. The 

reduction includes $94.0 million as the planned reduction in the GOES-R program. Additionally, 

the FY 2016 request is decreased by $15.0 million achieved by a one week reduction in carryover 

available to the GOES-R program from FY 2016 to FY 2017. The reduction to the amount of 

carryover remains within the bounds of the NASA best practices of 6-8 weeks and does not change 

the program’s content or life cycle cost.

• Jason-3. NOAA requests a planned decrease of $15.7 million for a total of $7.5 million to continue 

post launch operations of the Jason-3 satellite in partnership with European Organisation for the 

Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and Centre National d`Etudes Spatiales 

(CNES), NOAA’s European and French partners. NOAA will support routine post-launch 

operations of the Jason-3 satellite to include ingestion, processing and distribution of the data, and 

providing essential engineering services to sustain operations in the event of space or ground based

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anomalies. Within this budget, NOAA will also complete the evaluation of the Jason-3 satellite and 

instrument performance during the calibration and validation of all satellite data and will support 

continued Jason-3 satellite operations per our interagency commitment with EUMETSAT and 

CNES.

• Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). NOAA requests a decrease of $107.3 million for a total of 

$809.0 million for the JPSS. These funds will operate and sustain the Suomi National Polar 

Partnership satellite (S-NPP) and continue development of the instruments, ground system, and 

spacecraft for JPSS-1 and JPSS-2. The reduction includes a planned reduction of $82.3 million to 

the established budget profile. Additionally, the FY 2016 request is decreased by $25.0 million 

achieved by a one week reduction in the carryover available to the JPSS program from FY 2016 

into FY 2017. The reduction to carryover remains within the bounds of the NASA best practices of 

6-8 weeks and does not change the program’s content and life cycle costs.

• Polar Follow On (PFO). NOAA requests an increase of $380.0 million for a total of $380.0 

million to initiate the PFO. NOAA is focused on achieving polar weather constellation robustness 

as early as FY 2023. The request funds the following actions to ensure continuity of NOAA’s polar 

weather observations;

 Initiates development to support launch readiness dates of Q2 FY 2024 for JPSS-3 and Q3 FY 

2026 for the JPSS-4 missions.

 Provides the option for a JPSS-3 contingency mission with critical sounders Advanced 

Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) and Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) only.

 Invests in development of an advanced technology Earth Observing Nanosatellite-Microwave 

(EON-MW).

• Solar Irradiance, Data and Rescue (SIDAR): User Services Accommodation. NOAA requests a 

decrease of $6.8 million for a total of $0.5 million to plan for the accommodation of the Argos 

Advanced Data Collection System (A-DCS) and Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking 

(SARSAT) instruments. SARSAT provides satellite search and rescue services, and A-DCS 

provides environmental data collection and relay. This request will allow NOAA to plan the 

accommodation for A-DCS and SARSAT for launch in FY 2019. NOAA will work with the Office 

of Management and Budget (OMB), the Office of Science and technology Policy (OSTP) and 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop a plan for the accommodation 

of these instruments. The Solar Irradiance measurements initially conceived as a part of NOAA’s 

SIDAR program have been transitioned to NASA. Additionally, the Total Solar Irradiance 

Spectometer Instrument (TSIS) developed by NOAA will transition to NASA beginning in FY 

2016. NOAA will continue to operate the Total Solar Irradiance Calibration Transfer Experiment 

(TCTE) instrument to provide the bridge between the Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment 

(SORCE) and TCTE. In FY 2016 and beyond, the SIDAR program will consist of A-DCS and 

SARSAT.

• Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR). NOAA requests a planned decrease of $17.9 million 

for a total of $3.2 million to support routine maintenance and operations of the refurbished 

DSCOVR satellite. NOAA will continue to support routine post-launch maintenance and 

operations for the DSCOVR mission. The funds will be used for sustaining engineering support for 

the Mission Operations Center (MOC) located at the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility (NSOF) 

in Suitland, MD. NOAA will provide mission operations, ground systems maintenance, and data 

processing and archiving. Additionally, NOAA will also provide on-orbit support and 

enhancements to the ground system. DSCOVR carries two earth remote sensing instruments 

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provided by NASA; the Earth Polychromatic Camera (EPIC) that will take continuous full disk 

images of Earth and the NIST Advanced Radiometer (NISTAR) that will take continuous full disk 

measurements of the earth's radiation balance. 

• Space Weather Follow On. NOAA requests an increase of $2.5 million for a total of $2.5 million 

to analyze options from the Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) for critical space weather observations 

and to initiate development of the Space Weather Follow On mission. This entails developing 

preliminary versions of Level 1 Requirements, Concept of Operations, and program schedule for 

solar wind data and coronal mass ejection (CME) imagery for the program’s key decision point 

review, Key Decision Point-A. The Space Weather Follow On program will be configured in 

consultation with NASA, interagency and international partners and consistent with the goals 

outlined in the National Space Weather Strategy that is being developed by Space Weather 

Operations Research and Mitigation Task Force.

• COSMIC-2/Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation (GNSS RO): GNSS RO 

Ground System. NOAA requests an increase of $3.3 million for a total of $10.1 million for ground 

reception and processing of GNSS RO satellite data from GNSS RO satellites. NOAA will use 

these funds to complete all IT security testing and verification in preparation of the Constellation 

Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC-2) launches. There are two 

COSMIC-2 launches planned for FY 2016 and FY 2019, respectively. The first launch of six 

satellites is planned for an equatorial low earth orbit (24 degree inclination) and the second is 

planned to a higher inclination low earth orbit (72 degree inclination). The two different orbits are 

necessary in order to meet the NOAA signed Level 1 Requirement Document for GNSS RO data, 

with the main requirements being 45 minute average data latency and over 8,000 soundings for the 

system per day. The two launches ensure orbital distribution of low earth orbit satellites to provide 

the appropriate RO soundings.

• COSMIC-2/GNSS RO: COSMIC-2 (RO Sensors). NOAA requests an increase of $9.9 million for 

a total of $9.9 million for the procurement of the second set of six RO sensors to be launched in FY 

2019 for the COSMIC-2 constellation. The COSMIC-2 constellation will consist of 12 total RO 

sensors. The first launch of six satellites in FY 2016, planned for an equatorial low earth orbit (24 

degree inclination), is currently in production. The United States Air Force (USAF) is purchasing 

the first set of RO sensors to be flown on spacecraft procured and operated by Taiwan. The launch 

of the second set of six satellites is planned for FY 2019 to an inclination low earth orbit (72 degree 

inclination). Additionally, the acquisition and launch of the second set of six COSMIC-2 sensors 

will help to mitigate the impacts of a potential gap in polar satellite data on NWS forecasts, 

products and services.

• Satellite Ground Services (SGS). NOAA requests an increase of $2.7 million for a total of $58.5 

million to continue the planning and transition of the independent ground services into a unified set 

of common ground services for NOAA’s environmental satellite systems. This funding request will 

sustain SGS program activities implemented within the FY 2015 Congressional approval of the 

NOAA reorganization to leverage existing systems to provide new products and services and plan a 

future set of common ground services for NOAA’s satellites. The funding request is needed to 

accelerate prototyping of software elements that can be used by multiple applications and to 

evaluate hardware options for technology refresh action. These activities are a critical step toward 

setting the foundation for an enterprise ground system that will ultimately generate cost savings 

and interface efficiencies across NOAA.

• System Architecture and Advanced Planning (SAAP). NOAA requests an increase of $1.6 

million for a total of $4.9 million to establish and lead the system engineering processes necessary 

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to meet NESDIS’ mission assurance needs. The funding increase is needed to provide adequate 

end-to-end validation of the GOES-R and JPSS-1 mission requirements to ensure the NESDIS’ 

systems and products meet the operational needs identified by the user community. Fulfilling 

enterprise-level end-to-end validation has been a key focus of the NESDIS System Review Boards 

for NOAA’s satellite missions, including GOES-R and JPSS. Funding this activity in FY 2016 is 

critical for GOES-R to complete development activities and to certify end-to-end validation of the 

GOES-R products and ground system prior to launch. Remaining funding will be used to support 

planning for the full development of next generation satellite and ground architectures. NESDIS 

architecture planning is integral to the long-term continuity of satellite products used for 

environmental monitoring and prediction at an affordable cost.

• Projects, Planning and Analysis (PPA). NOAA requests an increase of $5.3 million for a total of 

$30.5 million to prepare three critical NOAA instruments for launch on the European satellite 

called MetOp-C. PPA is responsible for the project management and integration lead for data 

exploitation of NOAA’s satellites while providing on-orbit anomaly support and sustainment for 

existing operational systems. This funding request will allow NOAA to recalibrate the Space 

Environment Monitor (SEM) instrument on schedule to be shipped to Europe for satellite 

Dynamics and Electro-Magnetic Compatibility Testing. Without this funding request, NOAA will 

be unable to meet schedule obligation to ensure SEM’s accommodation for launch on MetOp-C in 

Q1 FY 2019.

• Satellite Command and Data Acquisition (CDA) Facility. NOAA requests an increase of $0.01 

million for a total of $2.2 million. The Satellite CDA Facilities Program ensures that power and 

cooling infrastructure is available 99.99 percent of the year, supporting the continuous collection, 

processing, and distribution of environmental data for the issuance of life saving NWS watches and 

short-term warnings to the public. This program supports the operation of critical infrastructure at 

the Wallops, VA, and Fairbanks, AK, Command and Data Acquisitions (CDA) stations, the NOAA 

Satellite Operations Facility (NSOF) in Suitland, MD, and the NESDIS Consolidated Backup 

(CBU) in Fairmont, WV. The NSOF and the CDA facilities have been determined to house 

National Critical Infrastructure elements by Presidential Decision Directive.

Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research

The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) request for funding related to meteorological 

supporting research in the FY 2016 President’s Budget totals $167.8 million, 416 FTE. This is an 

11.3% increase over the FY 2015 Enacted. Looking into FY 2017, OAR will continue to provide the 

Nation with critical environmental information to support informed decision-making and promote 

healthy, productive, and resilient ecosystems, communities, and economies. OAR will continue 

research focused on improving our understanding and forecasting capabilities for atmospheric events 

that endanger lives and property and research focused on establishing a greater understanding of, and 

ability to predict, climate variability and change, and to enhance society’s ability to plan and respond. 

OAR will also improve current NOAA operational products and services by conducting innovative 

research for the development of the next generation of products and services.

• Climate Labs and Cooperative Institutes. NOAA requests a net increase of $ 10.5 million for a 

total of $70.5 million to support research activities that will help to gain a comprehensive 

understanding of the physical, chemical, and dynamical processes that shape our climate. NOAA 

will maintain and enhance NOAA’s six Atmospheric Baseline Observatories (ABO) in order to

deliver policy-relevant data and information on greenhouse gas emissions and other critical 

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atmospheric data. NOAA will improve support of the U.S. Global Change Research Program’s 

(USGCRP) priority research areas, providing focused drought impacts research and applications 

development to underserved regions of the country. Finally NOAA will build upon its North 

American Carbon Observation and Analysis System (COAS) to establish a more robust network of 

sensors and carbon cycle modeling efforts to improve our understanding of the carbon cycle and 

the effect on the earth. OAR’s Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes are central to the effort of 

the climate research community to improve that understanding, to test our understanding through 

the development of state-of-the-art Earth System Models, and then to use those models to predict 

the future state of the climate. Observations of the Earth system and their analysis underpin the 

efforts that form the scientific basis for Climate Research.

• Weather and Air Chemistry Research (W&ACR). This sub-activity includes Laboratories and 

Cooperative Institutes (CIs) and Weather and Air Chemistry Research Programs. NOAA requests a 

net increase of $6.5 million for a total of $97.3 million. Increases would go to research and 

development on improving the detection and understanding of severe weather with a new airborne 

phased array radar, accelerating operational implementation of forecasting capabilities which will 

improve the accuracy of warnings, extend lead times, and enhance decision support services for 

high impact weather, and improving accuracy of weather outlooks out to three to four weeks (i.e., 

in the “mid-range”). OAR’s Weather and Air Chemistry Research supports R&D that provides the 

Nation with more accurate and timely warnings and forecasts of high impact weather events and 

their broader impact on issues of societal concern such as weather and air quality; and supports 

research that provides the scientific basis for informed management decisions about weather, 

water, and air quality

National Ocean Service

The National Ocean Service (NOS) request for funding related to meteorological supporting research 

in the FY 2016 President’s Budget totals $32 million with 117 FTE. This is a 2.2% increase over the 

FY 2015 Enacted. These funds allow for expanded operation of the National Water Level Observation 

Network (NWLON), and continued operation of the Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System 

(PORTS®) program, the data quality control program known as the Continuous Operational Real-time 

Monitoring System (CORMS), and the Ocean Systems Test and Evaluation Program (OSTEP), which 

is a development program for bringing new sensor technology into operations. Both the NWLON and 

PORTS® programs include subsets of operational water level stations with meteorological sensors 

installed for various partners and users, including the NWS. This is level funding with the FY 2015 

Enacted. Looking into FY 2017, NOS will continue to provide meteorological observations which are 

critical to navigation activities and the safety of life and property.

Though traditionally an oceanographic observing system, NWLON/PORTS® technology allows 

multiple other sensors to be added, including meteorological sensors such as wind 

speed/direction/gusts, air temperature, relative humidity and barometric pressure. Additionally, NOS 

has eight PORTS® stations with operational visibility sensors, in Mobile Bay, AL, San Francisco Bay, 

CA and Jacksonville, FL. Several more are being added on Narragansett Bay and on the northern 

Chesapeake Bay. These meteorological observations provide important data for improving and 

verifying marine weather forecasts and warnings. NOS has upgraded and enhanced the majority of its 

NWLON stations with new meteorological sensors. This increase in meteorological observations has 

led to a 10% increase in the probability of detection of marine weather events and a ten minute 

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increase in lead times for marine warnings, according to actual verification data for special marine 

warnings (WFO Sterling).

Navigation data users require a complete picture of their operating environment, which includes local 

meteorological data, to make safe and cost-effective decisions. Leveraging existing observing 

infrastructure is a cost-effective alternative to establishing new platforms to collect these data. The 

additional meteorological data improves the accuracy of NWS forecasts for storm surge, marine wind 

speed, and marine wave heights, used by both marine navigation and coastal communities when 

extreme weather events occur. The real-time data can be used by emergency responders to make sound 

decisions based upon the most up to date and accurate information. For example, when coastal areas 

are flooding, emergency responders must know which evacuation routes are still viable and other 

related information that most accurately reflects the current state of the physical environment.

Office of Marine and Aviation Operations

The FY 2016 President’s Budget requests $32.3 million and 121 FTE for the Office of Marine and 

Aviation Operations (OMAO) Aircraft Operations. This is a 2.2% increase over the FY 2015 Enacted. 

OMAO supports meteorological operations and research activities by collection of related data from 

aircraft. The fleet of aircraft support NOAA’s mission of science, service, and stewardship. The 

aircraft operate throughout the United States and around the world; over open oceans, mountains, 

coastal wetlands, and the Arctic. OMAO provides capable, mission-ready aircraft and professional 

crews to study global climate change and air quality, assess marine mammal populations, survey 

coastal erosion, investigate oil spills, conduct coastal mapping, survey snowpack levels for flood 

prediction, and improve hurricane prediction models. AOC flight crews operate in some of the world’s 

most demanding flight regimes including flying into the eye of a hurricane. Looking into FY 2017, 

OMAO will continue to support meteorological observations through its Aircraft Operations PPA.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

U.S. Air Force

U.S. Air Force (USAF) resources for meteorological support fall into two primary categories: general 

operations (includes operations, maintenance, and procurement) and research. The total Air Force 

weather operations and research funding request for FY 2016 is $141.2 million, an 8.2% increase from 

FY 2015, 2894 active duty military, 380 civilian, and 63 contractor personnel authorizations, a 3.4% 

decrease in overall personnel from FY 2015. There are no significant changes planned for FY 2017.

Operations

The operations support portion of the USAF weather FY 2016 budget request is $111.2 million and 

funds day-to-day environmental support to the Department of Defense (DoD), the Active Components 

of the Air Force and Army, nine unified commands, and other agencies as directed by the Chief of 

Staff of the Air Force. The USAF employs over 3,300 military and civilian personnel to conduct these 

activities at more than 184 locations worldwide. Additional personnel specializing in communications, 

computer, information technology, program management, program analysis, administrative, and 

logistics specialists support the weather mission in the Air Force. These resources are dedicated to 

providing dedicated, tailored weather support to US Air Force/US Army forces and platforms 

performing contingency and non-contingency operations around the globe. In addition, in FY16, the 

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Air Force will enhance its partnership with coalition nations by integrating the Global Air Land 

Weather Exploitation Model (GALWEM) into daily operations. This effort will provide a global 

numerical weather modeling capability that can be tailored to provide weather information supporting 

US and coalition air and land operations throughout the globe.

Supporting Research

The total Air Force budget request for meteorological-related research during FY 2016 is $29.9 

million. As part of the Air Force Strategic Weather Modernization Plan, the USAF continues investing 

in modernized environmental prediction and commercial-off-the-shelf technologies that enhance 

automation and save resources. In support of Program Action Directive (PAD) 14-03, the Air Force 

transferred its meteorological-related research funding to Air Force Material Command and Air Force 

Space Command. PAD 14-03 also transferred the authority to prioritize the funds to Air Combat 

Command. The USAF plans to invest in the following efforts in FY 2016 and beyond:

• Weather Data Analysis (WDA). WDA provides a net-centric infrastructure that assimilates 

worldwide sources of atmospheric and space weather data and produces decision-quality 

information for warfighters across multiple security enclaves. This information is provided through 

both machine-to-machine and machine-to-human capabilities. In FY16, RDT&E activities will 

enhance the capability to ingest, process, store, access, and disseminate meteorological data via 

upgrades to the web services architecture to expand the Open Geospatial Consortium services and 

upgrade the large-scale data processing to accommodate new environmental satellite and numerical 

weather modeling data.

• Numerical Weather Modeling (NWM). NWM includes numerical weather prediction (NWP) 

models; cloud analysis and forecasting models; land surface characterization models; aerosol, 

atmospheric constituent, and point analysis models/applications; and both global and mesoscale 

ensembles. In FY16, RDT&E funds will be executed to implement GALWEM 12 km resolution 

products and integrate UK Meteorological Office (UKMO) ensemble, 4-dimensional Variational 

(4D-Var) data assimilation techniques, and convective scale applications. Additional funds will be 

used to operationalize improved cloud forecasting techniques and enhance aerosol modeling 

algorithms.

• Space Weather Analysis and Forecast System (SWAFS). SWAFS is the primary operational DoD 

source for space weather data, models, and products. SWAFS ingest and databases ground- and 

space-based space weather data and employs models and applications to create and disseminate 

specified space weather analysis, warning, and forecast products for weather and space operations 

personnel. In FY16, SWAFS will continue with the Net-Centric data transition as well as 

Ionsopheric Scintillation and Total Electron Count (TEC) Observatory (ISTO) integration. Funds 

will also be spent to operationalize the latest Global Assimilation of Ionospheric Measurements 

(GAIM) – Full Physics (FP) model capabilities to improve specification and forecasts of the 

ionosphere.

• Weather Services – Live, Virtual, Constructive (WS-LVC). WS-LVC provides Air and Space 

Natural Environment data for DoD Modeling and Simulation (M&S) applications, and integrates 

with US Air Force and US Army Live, Virtual, Constructive operational training systems to deliver 

a correlated and realistic natural environment with tailorable scenarios for specific warfighter 

effects. In FY16, RDT&E funds will be used to continue incremental development of air and space 

natural environment data and associated effects for use in tailorable scenarios within warfighter 

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models and simulations. This program was previously called Environmental Data Cube Support 

System (EDCSS).

The goals of these efforts are to provide accurate, relevant, and timely meteorological intelligence to 

operators and warfighters at all levels of operations, within their decision cycle(s), and in a manner that 

facilitates exploitation of the current and forecasted environmental conditions.

U.S. Army

The U.S. Army (USA) estimates a $26.7 million request for FY 2016 including 47 Civilian, and 22 

Contractor personnel authorizations. This request consists of $14.4 million for operational support and 

$12.3 million for research and development, an overall decrease of 2.8% from FY 2015.

Army monies for meteorology are spent on research and development related to the Army mission; the 

development, production, and maintenance of Army meteorological systems; staff meteorological 

functions at selected headquarters; and weather-related training at the Training and Doctrine Command 

(TRADOC) schools and centers.

Headquarters, Department of the Army, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2, employs two full-time meteorologists for the coordination of meteorological support within the Department of the Army and 

with other DoD and Federal Agencies and organizations, and the development of Department of the 

Army policy concerning weather, environmental services, and oceanographic support to the Army (not 

to include those environmental services functions assigned to the Corps of Engineers). The United 

States Air Force provides one full-time staff weather officer to serve as a liaison between the AF and 

the Army Staff. Forces Command, U.S. Army Europe, Eighth U.S. Army, U.S. Army Pacific, and U.S. 

Army South have Air Force Active Component, Reserve Component, civilian, or contract 

meteorologists who conduct meteorological staff services at these locations.

TRADOC employs both Army and Air Force personnel to manage its meteorological-related activities.

As part of the TRADOC weather support structure, the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence 

(USAICoE) employs one full time meteorologist at TRADOC’s Army Weather Proponent Office 

(AWPO) to manage weather capabilities development efforts. The two AF specialists also oversee 

USAICoE’s combined Army/Air Force Battlefield Weather Course (4 weeks of instruction) held at Ft. 

Huachuca, AZ. TRADOC employs one meteorologist to oversee the Distributed Common Ground 

System-Army (DCGS-A) weather initiatives and objectives. DCGS-A is the Army’s intelligence, 

surveillance, and reconnaissance enterprise for the analysis and processing, exploitation, and 

dissemination of information and intelligence data, across all echelons. DCGS-A also leverages Air 

Force Weather Capabilities, integrates tailored weather information and products provided by the Air 

Force and disseminates to Army mission command.

The Army 2015 procurement funding is applied to the technical refresh of the fielded ruggedized 

laptops for Profiler Virtual Module (PVM) and the training and fielding of PVM version 1.0.0.4 to the 

Army. The Army 2015/2016 RDT&E funds are required for the development of PVM version 1.0.1 

integrating changes to the weather model to use the Unified Model (UM) data and Gridded Binary v2 

(GRIB2). FY2016 procurement funding covers the training and fielding of PVM 1.0.1.0 and the 

completion of the ruggedized laptop fielding. The Army 2016 RDT&E funds begin development of 

PVM v2 migrating to a service on the Command Post Computing Environment (CPCE) architecture 

within the Common Operating Environment (COE).

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Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

In its civil operational activities, the Corps of Engineers (COE) uses a network of approximately 

10,850 land-based gages. About 55 percent of these sites collect meteorological data, 35 percent 

collect a combination of hydrologic and meteorological data, and 10 percent collect hydrologic or 

water quality data. The meteorological gages commonly measure precipitation and temperature. All 

data are used in the regulation of COE dams and other water projects, for flood control, navigation, 

hydroelectric power, irrigation, water supply, water quality, and recreation. The COE funds or partially 

funds nearly half of all the gages it uses.

The COE funds NOAA/National Weather Service (NWS) to collect and maintain precipitation 

information from 876 meteorological sites. The COE funds the NWS for hydro-meteorological studies 

and funds the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for maintaining hydro-meteorological data collection 

services for 2479 sites. The rest of the sites are maintained by the COE. Services performed by USGS 

vary by site and by year, and can include site visits, maintenance of equipment, replacement of 

damaged equipment, field measurements for verification of data and continuous monitoring of data 

results. About 90 percent of all COE sites provide real-time data via satellite, microwaves, meterbursts, 

landlines, or radio. Data from COE gage sites are available to NWS, and to other federal, state and 

local agencies.

U.S. Army Europe and U.S. Army Pacific maintain a small budget to fund Army-owned automated 

weather-sensing systems within their respective areas of responsibility. 

Estimated budgets for meteorological research remain relatively unchanged from FY 2015 to FY 2016. 

Within the Army Materiel Command/Research Development & Engineering Command will continue 

research and development efforts in basic and applied atmospheric science. The Army Test and 

Evaluation Command (ATEC) meteorology program budget will continue to provide meteorological 

support to Army RDT&E ranges in FY 2015 and 2016. This budget will increase in FY 2016 to 

support a single year life cycle replacement of large computer systems to operate the FourDimensional Weather (4DWX) weather modeling system. In FY 2017, this budget will return to a 

level required to support baseline meteorological operations and support.

U.S. Navy

The U.S. Navy FY 2016 budget request for meteorological programs is $ 126.9 million, made up of 

$ 105.1 million for operations and $ 21.7 million to support enabling research. These numbers reflect a 

combined decrease from FY 2015 of 2.7%. Requested manpower authorizations include 415 Navy 

active duty, 370 Marine Corps active duty, 75 civilian personnel authorizations, and 18 contractors.

Naval Oceanography Program (NOP)

The Chief of Naval Operations, through the Oceanographer of the Navy, sponsors operational Navy 

Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC) services and related research and development. In August 

2012, the Oceanographer of the Navy acquired responsibility for funding the Navy’s meteorology and 

oceanography Operations & Maintenance (O&M, N) funding from the Chief of Naval Operations 

(N43). Since that date, the Oceanographer of the Navy has served as the Director of Oceanography, 

Space, and Maritime Domain Awareness for the Navy, within the Information Dominance Corps. In 

August 2014, the Chief of Naval Operations established the Information Dominance Type Command. 

Resource Sponsor (OPNAV), Operational Commander (CNMOC), and TYCOM (IDFOR) all work 

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Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

together to field capabilities. One provides the money, the other the requirements, and the TYCOM 

man, trains, and equips all Navy Weather activities.

The Navy provides meteorological services for Navy and joint forces, meteorological products to the 

Marine Corps, and oceanographic support to all elements of the Department of Defense, as well as to 

allied and coalition partners. The Navy sponsors programs in five closely related disciplines: 

meteorology, oceanography, space, maritime domain awareness, and positioning, navigation, and 

timing (PNT). All are used to protect ships, aircraft, fighting personnel, other platforms (manned and 

unmanned), and shore establishments from adverse ocean and weather conditions, and to provide a 

decisive tactical or strategic edge by exploiting the physical environment to optimize the performance 

and efficiency of platforms, sensors, and weapons. Naval METOC personnel (Navy and Marine Corps) 

are required to provide intelligence preparation of the operational environment (IPOE) for decision 

makers by assessing the impact of atmospheric and ocean phenomena on platforms, sensors, and 

weapon systems. Navy and Marine Corps METOC personnel provide for safe space, aviation, surface, 

and submerged movement, maneuver, and navigation in support of naval, joint, and combined forces, 

operating around the globe. This is done with a cadre of highly trained military and civilian personnel, 

educated in both sciences and warfighting services. By teaming with and leveraging the efforts of other 

agencies and activities, the NOP meets these challenges in a cost-effective manner, providing a full 

spectrum of products and services to provide decision makers in the field with environmental decision 

superiority while using only a small percentage of the Federal weather budget. Numerical Weather 

Prediction (NWP) comprising both model development and forecast skill are being pursued through 

the Earth System Prediction Capability (ESPC), discussed in the subsection of Military Services on 

Navy Products and Services.

Operational Support

Naval METOC provides a wide array of essential tactical, operational, and strategic METOC products 

and global weather prediction services to operating forces afloat and ashore. These services include 

collecting and processing environmental data using resources such as oceanographic ships, aircraft, 

satellites, and computing systems. These products and services enhance the performance of active and 

passive sensor and weapon systems; optimize the effectiveness of the sea control mission for mine 

counter-measures; and identify the environmental effects that influence the performance of fixed and 

mobile warfare systems and tactics. General and tailored oceanographic, acoustic, and meteorological 

forecasts are provided daily to fleet commanders and individual operating units from the Meteorology 

and Oceanography Command's numerical modeling and forecasting centers and from forecasting 

support activities located worldwide. Funding primarily supports national security interests and also 

benefits maritime commerce. Operational support for the Navy and Marine Corps includes the day-today provision of METOC products and services. As naval operations in the littoral increase, Naval 

METOC support is directed towards providing on-scene capabilities to personnel that directly furnish 

environmental data for sensor, weapon system, and personnel planning and employment. These onscene capabilities are key elements for enabling the war-fighters to take advantage of the natural 

environment as part of battlespace management. Owing to the crucial interrelationship of the ocean 

and the atmosphere, Naval METOC requires various oceanographic products to provide the requisite 

meteorological services. In addition to aviation and maritime METOC support, Navy and Marine 

Corps METOC teams provide a variety of unique services on demand, such as electro-optical, electromagnetic, and acoustic propagation models and products, METOC-sensitive tactical decision aids, and 

global sea ice analyses and forecasts.

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Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

Systems Acquisition. Naval METOC systems acquisition is accomplished through the Program 

Executive Office for Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence and Space (C4I 

and Space) in San Diego, California. This funds new and replacement meteorological equipment for all 

Navy and Marine Corps Air Stations, all Navy ships, USMC Operational Forces units and other 

activities required to provide weather observations and provides safety of flight capabilities. The

procurement has been thoroughly coordinated with other DOD and civilian agencies. Program also 

funds replacement of Survey Vessel shipboard mission equipment, deep and multibeam SONARs, Side 

Scan SONARs, Hydrographic Survey Launches, Ship Moving Vessel Profilers, Unmanned Under 

Water Gliders, and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles. The Oceanographer of the Navy also delivered 

through its SCN, two T-AGOR research vessels, to be operated by civilian research institutions in 

coordination with the University National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS). An Auxillary 

General Survey vessel (T-AGS) USNS MAURY will be delivered in FY 15.

Navy’s Earth System Prediction Capability (ESPC). The Navy’s Earth System Prediction Capability 

(ESPC) is a program to develop next generation environmental prediction employing emerging 

technologies in physical coupled prediction across the air-sea interface as well as to land, near space, 

sea ice, and other physical interactions. Additionally, ensemble-based probabilistic prediction for 

informed decision making is being addressed and collaborations with other operational prediction 

agencies through common technology standards is being implemented to develop an improved coupled 

weather, ice, and ocean prediction across multiple time scales from tactical to strategic.

The Navy’s ESPC will provide a more accurate, longer range, global ocean, atmosphere, and sea ice 

forecast system for decision support to safety of flight, safety of navigation, sensor and weapon 

performance, and mission planning, mitigation and effectiveness decisions. Development of global 

coupled ensemble technologies will provide increased accuracy for lead times of 1-10 days as well as a 

new capability for accurate forecasts from the Tropics into the Arctic at tactical, operational, and 

strategic lead times. It will develop a Navy interface to NOAA’s products for seasonal to multi-annual 

lead times for deliberate planning through integrating atmosphere, ocean, ice, land and near-space 

forecast models into a seamless prediction system. This effort is the Navy contribution to a National 

ESPC for improved cross-Agency Research to Operations collaboration, and the development of more 

accurate forecast systems and more efficient computational architectures to allow for improved realtime operational prediction.

The Navy’s ESPC directly enables achievement of warfighter decision superiority through improved 

knowledge of the physical environment. Such knowledge is key to the realization of Navy operational 

concepts critical to future warfighting capabilities such as the Undersea Dominance Operating 

Concept (UDOC) and Electromagnetic Maneuver Warfare (EMW). In both cases, knowledge of the 

current and future physical environment and its impact on the acoustic and electromagnetic spectrums 

directly supports the warfighter’s ability to optimize courses of action and mitigate environmental 

operational impacts.

Through-the-Sensor (TTS) Capabilities. The Hazardous Weather Detection and Display Capability 

(HWDDC) and Tactical Environmental Processor (TEP) are TTS technologies which will passively tap 

Navy air-search radars to obtain and display hazardous weather information. The HWDDC and TEP 

systems will be based off common modular weather processing algorithms and will have similar data 

product and display capabilities. Essentially, they represent one common set of processing algorithms 

applied to two different radars. The differences in capabilities supported by the systems are driven by 

the differences in the individual radars.

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Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

The HWDDC addresses a fleet requirement for real-time hazardous weather detection/display to 

support safety of flight and operations planning within Carrier and Expeditionary Strike Groups. The 

knowledge of hazardous weather conditions afloat greatly enhances readiness and combat posture.

Research and Development (R&D)

Naval METOC R&D is cooperatively sponsored by the Oceanographer/Navigator of the Navy and the 

Chief of Naval Research. This program enables the warfighter of the future to effectively carry out 

their mission by transitioning to operational use research performed by the Office of Naval Research. 

Both ONR and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command are responsible for transitioning 

Naval research to operational use. All research and development funded by the Oceanographer of the 

Navy is in direct support of the Naval mission or selected missions.

Naval R&D efforts have applications to meteorological, oceanographic, and/or tactical systems. The 

Navy’s tabulation of budget data includes R&D funding for basic research, applied research, 

demonstration and validation, and engineering and manufacturing development. Navy projects under 

sponsorship of the Oceanographer/Navigator of the Navy, transition from engineering development to 

operational naval systems. These efforts advance Naval METOC forecasting capabilities, 

communication enhancements, data compression techniques, to improve models and better predict 

METOC parameters in littoral regions. Our understanding of the impact these parameters have on 

sensors, weapons systems, and platforms is critical to mission success throughout the world. The Naval 

METOC community works closely with research developers and operational forces to ensure that 

naval and joint force commanders will always have the most accurate, timely, and geo-referenced 

METOC information available for successful operations.

Research and Development (R&D) FY-17 Outlook

At present we anticipate no significant budget changes in FY 2017. Focus areas have been defined, 

using annual Sponsor/TYCOM guidance, Science and Technology Objectives (STOs), TYCOM 

Integrated Prioritized Capability List(s) and other references to influence the scope and direction of 

future R&D projects as well as the Basic and Applied Research that underpins Battlespace Awareness 

and Information Dominance technological innovation and operational transitions. Three thrust areas 

for US Navy meteorological R&D through FY 2017 include:

1. Expand or Atmospheric Boundary Layer Sensing Capability/Capacity to fully support Electromagnetic Maneuver Warfare (EMW). Exploit Through-the-Sensor (TSS) opportunities and 

develop, field and sustain dedicated platforms/sensors capable of sufficiently resolving boundary 

layer structure.

2. Develop, Field and Sustain an Organic/Afloat Nowcasting Capability to support continuity of 

operations in an A2/AD environment. This ‘Nowcast’ model must be developed and fielded to 

support multiple computing environments, e.g., shipboard (CANES) and expeditionary.

3. Develop, Field and Sustain the Next-Generation Coupled Global Model and Infrastructure for 

Assured and Authoritative Access to Observations, Forecasts, Products, and Services. Refer to this 

link for Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, CA http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/

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Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Coast Guard

All of the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) funding for meteorological programs is for operations support. 

For FY 2016, the requested funding level is $30.0 million and 108 personnel authorizations (107 

military and 1 Federal). The funding level for 2017 is not expected to change significantly. The Coast 

Guard does not have a specific program and budget for meteorology—all meteorological activities are 

accomplished as part of general operations. The USCG does not track meteorological costs at an 

organizational level, so the funding level is an estimate. The Coast Guard’s activities include the 

collection and dissemination of meteorological and iceberg warning information for the benefit of the 

marine community. The Coast Guard also collects coastal and marine observations from its shore 

stations and cutters and transmits these observations daily to the Navy’s Fleet Numerical Meteorology 

and Oceanography Center and NOAA’s National Weather Service. These observations are used by 

both the Navy and NOAA in generating weather forecasts.

The Coast Guard also disseminates a variety of weather forecast products and warnings to the marine 

community via radio transmissions. Coast Guard shore stations often serve as sites for NWS automated 

coastal weather stations, and the National Data Buoy Center provides logistics support in deploying 

and maintaining NOAA offshore weather buoys from Coast Guard cutters. The International Ice Patrol 

conducts iceberg surveillance operations and provides warnings to mariners on the presence of 

icebergs in the North Atlantic shipping lanes. Coast Guard efforts in meteorological operations and 

services have not changed significantly during recent years.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requested funding for FY 2016 is $4.9 million, 39 FTE, and 

4 contractors which is a 4% increase over the total allocated from FY 2015. The BLM funds two 

principal programs—the soil, water, and air (SWA) program and the fire weather activities of the 

Office of Fire and Aviation (OFA). 

Soil Water and Air Program (SWA). The FY 2016 budget request for SWA meteorological operations 

is estimated at $1.56 million and 10 FTE, which is the same amount allocated in FY 2015. The FY 

2016 estimate includes $600,000 for labor and logistics to support climate and weather data collection 

efforts by BLM resource management staff, and approximately $965,000 for project implementation. 

Projects include 1) collection of meteorological data and operation of RAWS stations equipped with 

additional instruments to measure soil moisture and winter precipitation not required for fire 

monitoring, 2) maintenance of eight stations in the NRCS SCAN network, 3) operation of nine NADP 

sites, and 4) continued operation of a meteorological monitoring site at Inigok Station within the 

National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska. The SWA program initiates efforts to collect additional data 

through cooperative efforts with other agencies or with resource management staff in state and field 

offices when existing monitoring networks are not sufficient to meet the needs for air-resource-related 

information.

Fire and Aviation Directorate (FA). The FY 2016 FA budget request for meteorological operations is 

estimated at $3.3 million and 29 FTE, which is a 5.8 percent change from FY2015. This represents 

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Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

BLM support for meteorologists at the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) and 

Geographic Area Coordination Centers (GACCs) and BLM support of the Interagency Remote 

Automatic Weather Station (RAWS) network. An additional $939,000 is generally recovered through 

reimbursable accounts with non-Department of Interior (DOI) agencies for RAWS support. Funded 

activities related to the RAWS network include maintenance, travel, transportation, services, supplies, 

and equipment. Some agencies incur additional costs in support of the RAWS network through 

commercially contracted maintenance services. No change to the Soil Water and Air Management or 

Fire and Aviation Directorate program is anticipated in FY2017.

The interagency RAWS network is an important tool for wildland fire management which directly 

supports the protection of life and property. All affected Federal agencies within DOI participate in its 

acquisition, operation, and support. The BLM, in particular, has a lead role in the maintenance of the 

RAWS network, providing both data distribution services and equipment support. Participating 

agencies address common issues and coordinate efforts to ensure the collection of accurate and useful 

fire weather data. 

Under the Predictive Services Program, meteorologists who specialize in fire weather services team 

with intelligence specialists and wildland fire analysts at the GACCs and the NICC to form Predictive 

Services units. The Predictive Services units act as centers of expertise to produce integrated planning 

and decision-support tools that enable more proactive, safe, and cost-effective fire management.

National Park Service

The National Park Service (NPS) FY 2016 budget request is approximately $3.8 million, 8 FTE, and 3 

contractors, essentially flat funding from FY 2015. The NPS expends about $0.9 million on 

atmospheric research with a focus on measurements of all forms of atmospheric reactive nitrogen and 

on aerosol science. The goal of this research is to identify the sources of air pollution that are affecting 

park ecosystems and visibility and to quantify their impacts. The NPS also expends approximately $2.9 

million in routine air quality, visibility, and meteorological monitoring networks.

U.S. Geological Survey

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) requested funding for FY 2016 is estimated at approximately 

$63.7 million and 15 FTE, an increase of 2.7 percent from FY2015. This reflects funding requirements 

for the Geomagnetism Program, Hydrometeorological Data Collection and Distribution, and postwildfire debris flow warning operations. No significant change is anticipated for FY 2017.

Geomagnetism Program. This request includes $2.15 million for magnetic observatory operations and 

monitoring and $1.4 million for research focused on ground-level hazards associated with variable 

space-weather conditions. The FY 2016 increase will provide for enhanced monitoring of geomagnetic 

and electric-field activity at ground level, and establish a national project for mapping time-dependent 

geomagnetic hazards for assessing national space weather vulnerability and risk.

Hydrometeorological Data Collection and Distribution and Post-wildfire debris flow warning 

operations. This request includes $60 million for operation of the national Stream Gage Network and 

$66K for post wildfire debris flow warning operations. The USGS’s Water Mission Area collects 

streamflow, precipitation, water quality, ground-water level, and other water resources and 

climatological data as part of a national network and for a number of projects concerning rainfall1-18
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

runoff, water quality, and hydrologic processes. A number of federal, state, and local agencies 

contribute to the costs of collection and distribution of these data.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

For FY 2016, the FAA is requesting a total of $374 million, 149 FTEs and 964 contractors for Aviation 

Weather related, Operations Support, Major Systems Acquisitions, Recurring Research and 

Development Costs, and Systems Development; an approximate 3.9% increase from FY 2015 actual 

funding received. The actual funding for the Aviation Weather Programs in FY 2015 was $360 

million. The changes are comprised of:

• An increase in reported numbers for Operations Support from an actually received 

$262 million in FY 2015 to a requested $296 million in FY 2016.

• A decrease in reported numbers for Major Systems Acquisitions from an actually received $74.2 

million in FY 2015 to a requested $51 million in FY 2016.

• An increase in reported numbers for recurring Research and Development Costs from an actually 

received $18.9 million in FY 2015 to a requested $22.4 million in FY 2016.

• No significant change in reported numbers for Systems Development from an actually received 

$5.4 million in FY 2015 to a requested $5.4 million in FY 2016.

The funding changes reflect major initiatives in the Aviation Weather programs to support the Next 

Generation (NextGen) National Air Transportation System. These changes will bring enhancements, 

including the dissemination of weather products and decision-making information.

In FY 2015, FAA made an acquisition decision to build and deploy System-Wide Information 

Management (SWIM) – Common Support Services Weather (CSS-Wx) and NextGen Weather 

Processors (NWP) – Work Package 1. For FY 2017, we will continue to research and make progress in 

the weather area to support NextGen weather requirements. Research projects may include weather 

sensor/radar investment, weather needs in the flight deck and refresh of the weather infrastructure.

United States (U.S.) Code Title 49 Section 44720 (49 U.S.C. 44720) designates the FAA as the 

Meteorological Authority for domestic and international aviation weather services of the U.S. In this 

capacity, the FAA provides requirements for the administration of aviation weather services to the 

National Weather Service (NWS). The FAA is responsible for ensuring compliance with these services 

and with maintaining International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended 

Practices as specified in Annex 3-Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation.

Federal Highway Administration

Due to the extended time for road construction projects, the Department of Transportation does not go 

through an annual budget process but typically uses a six-year authorization. The current transportation 

authorization allocates $100 million for the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Research 

Program. Of this, for FY 2016, the Road Weather Management Program (RWMP) has budgeted $2.0 

million, 3 FTE, and 3 contractors. All of RWMP’s funding is for applied research. The majority of 

RWMP activity involves software development and studies under the research and development 

category to develop decision-support systems that integrate high-resolution road weather and 

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Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

connected vehicle data and products with transportation-oriented applications and management 

strategies.

Outlook for Fiscal Year 2017 – In addition to building out connected vehicle applications, which 

involves a driver, automated vehicle applications, which do not involve a driver, has been growing at a 

rapid pace. Most of the developments seem to have neglected road weather conditions, which is critical 

for enhancing safety, mobility and the environment. Much less is known about the effects of adverse 

weather on automated vehicle applications and there is significant need to research and understand 

these effects. It is the intention of the Road Weather Program to stay actively engaged in this research 

process to help support the development and deployment of automated vehicles.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

The anticipated funding level in FY 2016 for directed meteorological research is about $6.7 million 

and 43 FTE, and 12 contractors, a 4% increase from FY 2015. All of the Environmental Protection 

Agency’s (EPA) funding of meteorological and air quality programs is for supporting basic and 

applied research. No significant change is anticipated for FY 2017 at this time.

Continued attention is being paid to the effects of airborne toxins and fine particulate matter on human 

health, on the effect of climate change on air quality, and the impact of air pollution on human health 

and sensitive ecosystems. In addition, to promote excellence in environmental science and engineering, 

the EPA supports a national research grants program for investigator-initiated research. The funding 

for grants (with reliance on quality science and peer review) and for graduate fellowships (to support 

the education and careers of future scientists) will provide for a more balanced, long-term capital 

investment in improved environmental research and development. The funding for the grants program 

in FY 2016 is anticipated to be slightly less or comparable to that in FY 2015.

The EPA’s Research Grants Program will fund research in areas, including ecological assessment, air 

quality, environmental fate and treatment of toxins and hazardous wastes, effects of global climate 

change on air quality, and exploratory research. The portion of these grants that will be awarded for 

meteorological research during FY 2016 cannot be foreseen, but it is probable that the grant awards 

will increase the base amount of $6.69 million listed above for directed meteorological research.

The EPA continues its development and evaluation of air quality models for air pollutants on all 

temporal and spatial scales as mandated by the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990. Research will focus 

on urban, mesoscale, regional, and multimedia models, which will be used to develop air pollution 

control policies, human and ecosystem exposure assessments, and air quality forecasts. There will be 

increased emphasis placed on meteorological research into global-to-regional-to-urban-local formation 

and intercontinental transport of air contaminants in support of the revisions to the National Ambient 

Air Quality Standards and ecosystem protection strategies. Increased efficiency of computation and 

interpretation of model results are being made possible by means of supercomputing and scientific 

visualization techniques.

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) estimated meteorological operations 

and research budget request for FY 2016 is $618.5 million, 10 FTEs, and 10 contractors. This request 

is an increase of 14.8 percent from the FY 2015 budget of $538.9 million. The budget figures reported 

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Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

are based on relevant missions and programs in the Earth Science Division1 and the Heliophysics 

Division2 within the Science Mission Directorate (SMD), and the Human Exploration and Operations 

Mission Directorate (HEOMD)3

. Across the directorates, NASA estimates the extent to which each 

mission and program contributes and relates to meteorological operations and research activities. For 

FY17, the only significant changes planned for NASA’s meteorological operations and research 

activities concern the Heliophysics Division’s phasing of development of the Solar Probe Plus and 

Solar Orbiter Collaboration missions. 

NASA Earth Science advances understanding of the Earth system, its components and their 

interactions, its changes, and the consequences of these changes for life. The program pioneers the use 

of remote sensing data, primarily space-based, in new and innovative ways, and leverages NASA’s 

unique capabilities in global Earth observation. Earth Science Research sponsors basic disciplinary and 

interdisciplinary research, Earth system modeling efforts, the Airborne Science program (which 

provides access to aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems), and supercomputing efforts supporting a 

variety of research areas. Most of the funds of the Earth Science Research program budget is 

competitively awarded to investigators from NASA centers, academia, other government agencies, and 

the private sector. The program uses satellite and airborne measurements, coupled with cutting-edge 

analyses and numerical models, to turn observations into information and understanding.

NASA takes an organized approach to address complex, interdisciplinary Earth science problems, 

integrating science across the programmatic elements in pursuit of a comprehensive understanding of 

the Earth system. The resulting programmatic structure comprises six interdisciplinary and interrelated 

science focus areas. These areas are: 

• Climate Variability and Change: Improve the ability to predict climate changes by better 

understanding the roles and interactions of oceans, atmosphere, land, and ice in the climate system;

• Atmospheric Composition: Advance the understanding of changes in the Earth’s radiation balance, 

air quality and the ozone layer that result from changes in atmospheric composition;

• Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems: Detect and predict changes in Earth's ecological and chemical 

cycles, including land cover, biodiversity, and the global carbon;

• Water and Energy Cycle: Enable better assessment and management of water quality and quantity 

to accurately predict how the global water cycle evolves in response to climate change;

• Weather: Improve the capability to predict weather and extreme weather events; and

• Earth Surface and Interior: Characterize the dynamics of Earth’s surface and interior, improving 

the capability to assess and respond to natural hazards and extreme events.

1 The Earth Science Division (ESD) reported budget includes an estimate of weather observations and research and closely 

related program activities. Research and satellite mission budgets are estimated proportionally to their overall contributions 

to activities reported, noting that the objective of ESD’s program is to advance Earth System science.

2 This report includes Heliophysics Division research assets and programs that contribute significantly to the advancement 

of space weather knowledge and to the transfer of that knowledge into space weather prediction systems. 

3 The Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) reported budget includes an estimate of activities 

to measure and forecast atmospheric and space weather events that strongly impact launch and landing operations, as well 

as crew radiation exposure.

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Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

NASA also supports space weather research through the Heliophysics Division within NASA’s SMD. 

The objective of the Heliophysics Division is to understand the Sun and its interactions with the Earth 

and the solar system, including space weather. To that end, the NASA Heliophysics program seeks to 

perform innovative space research missions to understand:

• What causes the Sun to vary?

• How do the geospace, planetary space environments and the heliosphere respond?

• What are the impacts on humanity?

Heliophysics also seeks to enable research based on these missions and other sources to understand the 

connections among the Sun, Earth, and the solar system for science and to assure human safety and 

security both on Earth and as we explore beyond it. Heliophysics research provides a foundation to 

build predictive models of space weather events, mitigate the hazards posed to assets both in space and 

on the ground, and understand space weather impacts throughout the solar system.

In addition to research, NASA also engages in operations regarding atmospheric and space weather 

constraints within the HEOMD. The HEOMD objective is the safety of manned spacecraft, crew, 

satellites, scientific instruments, and launch vehicles. The greatest challenge is to accurately measure 

and forecast atmospheric and space weather events that strongly impact all operational phases of the 

mission, as well as crew radiation exposure. 

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 

For FY 2016, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) total planned contract expenditures of 

$1.87 million ($480,000 for operations and $1.39 million for supporting research) and 7 FTE are for 

meteorological operations to continue: 

• technical assistance for the analysis of atmospheric transport and dispersion for routine and 

postulated accidental releases from nuclear facilities

• conducting meteorological research in support of licensing activities, including consideration of 

site specific probable maximum precipitation analysis and local intense precipitation analysis 

related to hydrometeorology at certain facilities

• updating and preparing guidance on meteorological subjects pertaining to licensing actions

• reviews of proposed sites for possible construction of new nuclear power plants

• reviews of meteorological parameters for submitted design certification applications

• reviews of existing sites and meteorological parameters for operating facilities (reactors, 

production and utilization facilities, storage facilities)

The meteorological support program at the NRC includes analyzing and employing meteorological 

data in atmospheric transport and dispersion models. These models provide insight on plume pathways 

in the near- and far-fields for building wake and dispersion characteristics in order to perform dose 

calculations on postulated releases into the environment. Meteorological information is used as input to 

the probabilistic safety assessment, the assessment of the radiological impacts of routine releases from 

normal operations, the assessment of other (non-radiological) hazards (including rare external events 

such as extreme storms) that may impact safe operation of the facility, and the assessment of design or 

operational changes proposed for the facility. 

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Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

Current and projected research activities include updating the methods used to estimate the effects of 

extreme precipitation events and developing an integrated approach for probabilistic flood hazard 

assessment (PFHA). During FY 2012, research was initiated to address the influence of orographic 

features on extreme precipitation events. This work was continued in FY 2013 and FY 2014 and is 

prioritized to continue into the coming fiscal year for those areas of the United States where new 

nuclear power plants are proposed or where existing nuclear power plants are utilizing these concepts. 

The four key regulatory applications to be focused on include support of new reactor licensing, support 

of reactor oversight process, support of risk-informed licensing actions, and support of future 

regulatory actions related to flooding. This work will provide the design basis for flood protection 

systems and plant response for nuclear power plants. 

The nuclear power industry continues to operate existing facilities, as well as pursue approval for new 

nuclear power plants. Numerous license amendments for existing sites and early site permit, combined 

license, and design certification applications have been received and are currently under review or have 

been approved by the NRC. These reviews consider site characteristics, regional climatology, and local 

meteorology. In addition to its internal activities, the NRC seeks assistance from other Federal 

agencies to support its safety and environmental licensing actions.

In addition, due to the March 2011 earthquake and subsequent tsunami accident at the Fukushima Diaichi nuclear power plant, NRC licensees were requested to provide their responses to their 

reevaluations of flooding hazards at their sites (using updated information, methodologies, and 

regulatory guidance) on a staggered three-year basis, beginning in March 2013. The NRC staff, along 

with support from its consultants, has begun reviewing these flood hazard reevaluations. In addition, 

NRC staff has received several accompanying site-specific probable maximum precipitation analyses 

that are being used by licensees to determine whether additional regulatory actions are necessary to 

protect the site against the reevaluated flooding hazards. These licensees are making predictions for 

maximum precipitation using similar methods to those utilized in the NWS HMRs but with new 

assumptions (e.g. storm catalogs, maximum moisture results, and storm transposition). The licensees 

are requesting that the NRC provide a licensing decision on these new methods regarding the adequacy 

of these methods. As part of this effort, the NRC is engaging with other federal agencies and experts in 

this field to observe how these analyses compare to NOAA’s existing HMRs and what acceptance 

criteria the NRC should apply to determine the licensing acceptability of these methods. 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

DOE’s Climate and Environmental Sciences Division (CESD) focuses on a predictive, systems-level 

understanding of the fundamental science associated with climate change and DOE's environmental 

challenges; both are key to support the DOE science mission. As a basic science funding organization 

within the DOE Office of Science, CESD does not provide climate services to federal, state, and local 

agencies nor does it conduct research for the purpose of improved operations or climate services.

Through its support for basic research, DOE CESD contributes to the fundamental understanding of 

the climate system. [See Table 1, page 46, Chapter 5 Budget Information, FY 2014 – FY 2016 

USGCRP Budget Crosscut by Agency, “The U.S. Global Change Research Program for Fiscal Year 

2016”, A Supplement to the President’s Budget, of the “Our Changing Planet”, National Science 

Foundation Award No. NSFDACS13C1421.]

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Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

The Department of State (DOS) request for funding related to meteorological services and supporting 

research in the FY 2016 President’s Budget is an estimated $2.8M, consistent with funds dispersed for 

FY 2015. Requested FY 2016 funds would allow DOS to continue to contribute funding for activities 

related to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an organization to assess scientific, 

technical, and socioeconomic information relevant for the understanding of climate change, its 

potential impacts, and options for adaptation and mitigation. This funding also supports DOS 

contributions to the Global Earth Observations and Global Climate Observing System programs. No 

significant funding changes are anticipated for FY 2017 at this time.

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

Global Volcanism Program (GVP). The Smithsonian Institution requested funding for FY 2016 is an 

estimated $70K and 2 FTE to support the Natural History Museum, Global Volcanism Program. This 

represents no significant change from the total allocated for FY 2015 and there is no significant change 

anticipated for FY 2017. The GVP collects, catalogs, and disseminates information on ~1,540 

volcanoes active in the last 10,000 years with a small staff working regular business hours Monday to 

Friday in the Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C.

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

The National Science Foundation (NSF) request for funding related to meteorological supporting 

research in the FY 2016 President’s Budget is $135.9M, and 10 FTE, a 4.7% increase over FY 2015.

Requested FY 2016 funds would allow NSF to continue to fund research related to basic meteorology, 

climate, and space weather. NSF proposal requests are community-driven, which allows funding to 

move to emerging areas of interest. In addition, the funding would ensure that facilities, both 

observational and computational, are made available for community use. No major changes are 

currently anticipated for FY 2017. 

1-24
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

BUDGET TABLES

Table 1 Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research Costs* by Agency

This table summarizes, by agency, both meteorological operations and supporting research costs. 

Funding levels for FY 2015 are congressionally appropriated funds. FY 2016 numbers indicate the

funding requested in the President’s FY 2016 budget. The change percentages between FY 2015 and 

FY 2016 are also shown.

 TABLE 1 Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research Costs* by Agency

 (Thousands of Dollars)

% of % of % of % of

Operations FY16 Supporting Research FY16 Total FY15 FY16

AGENCY FY15 FY16 %CHG TOTAL FY15 FY16 %CHG TOTAL FY15 FY16 %CHG TOTAL TOTAL

Agriculture 20100 19951 -0.7 0.5 54909 55169 0.5 4.9 75009 75120 0.1 1.5 1.4

Commerce/NOAA(Subtot) 3332491 3494335 4.9 83.3 191793 216262 12.8 19.2 3524284 3710597 5.3 70.1 69.7

 NWS 1072460 1076765 0.4 25.7 14993 22113 47.5 2.0 1087453 1098878 1.1 21.6 20.6

 NESDIS 2197144 2353311 7.1 56.1 26000 26316 1.2 2.3 2223144 2379627 7.0 44.2 44.7

 OAR 0 0 0 0 150800 167833 11.3 14.9 150800 167833 11.3 3.0 3.2

 NOS 31287 31966 2.2 0.8 0 0 0 0 31287 31966 2.2 0.6 0.6

 OMAO 31600 32293 2.2 0.8 0 0 0 0 31600 32293 2.2 0.6 0.6

Defense(Subtot) 237584 230759 -2.9 5.5 50757 64014 26.1 5.7 288341 294773 2.2 5.7 5.5

 Air Force 110412 111231 0.7 2.7 20102 29955 49.0 2.7 130514 141186 8.2 2.6 2.7

 Navy 113307 105113 -7.2 2.5 17006 21742 27.8 1.9 130313 126855 -2.7 2.6 2.4

 Army 13865 14415 4.0 0.3 13649 12317 -9.8 1.1 27514 26732 -2.8 0.5 0.5

Homeland Security (Subtot) 29887 29970 0.3 0.7 0 0 0 0 29887 29970 0.3 0.6 0.6

 USCG 29887 29970 0.3 0.7 0 0 0 0 29887 29970 0.3 0.6 0.6

Interior/BLM (Subtot) 68791 69983 1.7 1.7 1676 2336 39.4 0.2 70467 72319 2.6 1.4 1.4

 BLM 4684 4865 3.9 0.1 0 0 0 0 4684 4865 3.9 0.1 0.1

 NPS 2889 2900 0.4 0.1 940 900 -4.3 0.1 3829 3800 -0.8 0.1 0.1

 USGS 61218 62218 1.6 1.5 736 1436 95.1 0.1 61954 63654 2.7 1.2 1.2

Transportation(Subtot) 336223 346641 3.1 8.3 26260 29769 13.4 2.6 362483 376410 3.8 7.2 7.1

 FAA 336223 346641 3.1 8.3 24260 27769 14.5 2.5 360483 374410 3.9 7.2 7.0

 FHWA 0 0 0 0 2000 2000 0.0 0.2 2000 2000 0.0 0.0 0.0

EPA 0 0 0 0 6430 6690 4.0 0.6 6430 6690 4.0 0.1 0.1

NASA 1973 2035 3.1 0.0 536909 616465 14.8 54.6 538882 618500 14.8 10.7 11.6

NRC 337 480 42.4 0.0 1390 1390 0.0 0.1 1727 1870 8.3 0.0 0.0

DOE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

DOS 2800 2800 0.0 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 2800 2800 0.0 0.1 0.1

Smithsonian 15 0 -100.0 0 55 70 27.3 0.0 70 70 0.0 0.0 0.0

NSF 0 0 0 0 129791 135891 4.7 12.0 129791 135891 4.7 2.6 2.6

TOTAL 4030201 4196954 4.1 100.0 999970 1128056 12.8 100.0 5030171 5325010 5.9 100.0 100.0

% of FY TOTAL 80.1% 78.8% 19.9% 21.2% 100.0% 100.0%

*The FY 2015 funding reflects Congressionally appropriated funds; the FY 2016 funding reflects the amount requested in the President's FY 2016 budget

submission to Congress.

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Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

Table 2 Operational Costs by Budget Category

This table describes the agency plans to obligate their funds for meteorological operations by budget 

category. The two major categories are Operations Support and Major Systems Acquisition. To a large 

degree, these categories correspond to non-hardware costs (Operations Support) and hardware costs 

(Systems Acquisition).

 Operations % of

 Support Total FY16

AGENCY FY15 FY16 FY15 FY16 FY15 FY16 %CHG TOTAL

Agriculture 20100 19951 0 0 20100 19951 -0.7 0.5

Commerce/NOAA(Subtot) 1176647 1178387 2155844 2315948 3332491 3494335 4.9 83.3

 NWS 951160 950100 121300 126665 1072460 1076765 0.4 25.7

 NESDIS 162600 164028 2034544 2189283 2197144 2353311 7.1 56.1

 OAR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 NOS 31287 31966 0 0 31287 31966 2.2 0.8

 OMAO 31600 32293 0 0 31600 32293 2.2 0.8

Defense(Subtot) 188704 177092 48880 53667 237584 230759 -2.9 5.5

 Air Force 80338 80900 30074 30331 110412 111231 0.7 2.7

 Navy 96301 83377 17006 21736 113307 105113 -7.2 2.5

 Army 12065 12815 1800 1600 13865 14415 4.0 0.3

Homeland Security (Subtot) 29887 29970 0 0 29887 29970 0.3 0.7

 USCG 29887 29970 0 0 29887 29970 0.3 0.7

Interior/BLM 68791 69983 0 0 68791 69983 1.7 1.7

 BLM (Subtot) 4684 4865 0 0 4684 4865 3.9 0.1

 SWA 1565 1565 0 0 1565 1565 0.0 0.0

 OFA 3119 3300 0 0 3119 3300 5.8 0.1

 NPS 2889 2900 0 0 2889 2900 0.4 0.1

 USGS 61218 62218 0 0 61218 62218 1.6 1.5

Transportation(Subtot) 262003 295641 74220 51000 336223 346641 3.1 8.3

 FAA 262003 295641 74220 51000 336223 346641 3.1 8.3

 FHWA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

EPA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NASA 1973 2035 0 1973 2035 3.1 0.0

NRC 337 480 0 0 337 480 42.4 0.0

DOE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

DOS 2800 2800 0 0 2800 2800 0.0 0.1

Smithsonian 15 0 0 0 15 0 -100.0 0

NSF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 1751257 1776339 2278944 2420615 4030201 4196954 4.1 100.0

% of FY TOTAL 43.5% 42.3% 56.5% 57.7% 100.0% 100.0%

TABLE 2 Operational Costs by Budget Category

(Thousands of Dollars)

Major Systems

Acquisition

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Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

Table 3 Supporting Research and Development Costs by Budget Category

This table describes the agency plans to obligate their funds for meteorological supporting research 

and Development by budget category. Similar to operational funding in table 2, these categories are 

Research and Development (non-hardware) and Systems Development (hardware).

% of

 Total FY16

AGENCY FY15 FY16 FY15 FY16 FY15 FY16 %CHG TOTAL

Agriculture 54909 55169 0 0 54909 55169 0.5 4.9

Commerce/NOAA(Subtot) 189273 214392 2520 1870 191793 216262 12.8 19.2

 NWS 14343 22113 650 0 14993 22113 47.5 2.0

 NESDIS 26000 26316 0 0 26000 26316 1.2 2.3

 OAR 148930 165963 1870 1870 150800 167833 11.3 14.9

 NOS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 OMAO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Defense(Subtot) 32611 46956 18146 17058 50757 64014 26.1 5.7

 Air Force 5002 15005 15100 14950 20102 29955 49.0 2.7

 Navy 17006 21742 0 0 17006 21742 27.8 1.9

 Army 10603 10209 3046 2108 13649 12317 -9.8 1.1

Homeland Security (Subtot) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 USCG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Interior/BLM 1676 2336 0 0 1676 2336 39.4 0.2

 BLM (Subtot) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 SWA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 OFA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 NPS 940 900 0 0 940 900 -4.3 0.1

 USGS 736 1436 0 0 736 1436 95.1 0.1

Transportation(Subtot) 20895 24369 5365 5400 26260 29769 13.4 2.6

 FAA 18895 22369 5365 5400 24260 27769 14.5 2.5

 FHWA 2000 2000 0 0 2000 2000 0.0 0.2

EPA 6430 6690 0 0 6430 6690 4.0 0.6

NASA 152565 163942 384344 452523 536909 616465 14.8 54.6

NRC 1390 1390 0 0 1390 1390 0.0 0.1

DOE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

DOS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Smithsonian 35 50 20 20 55 70 27.3 0.0

NSF 129791 135891 0 0 129791 135891 4.7 12.0

TOTAL 589575 651185 410395 476871 999970 1128056 12.8 100.0

% of FY TOTAL 59.0% 57.7% 41.0% 42.3% 100.0% 100.0%

TABLE 3 Supporting Research and Development Costs by Budget Category

(Thousands of Dollars)

Recurring

R&D Costs

Systems

Development

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Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

Tables 4 and 5, Operational Costs and Supporting Research Costs by Service 

Category

These tables indicate how the funds identified in Tables 2 and 3 are divided among the eleven service 

categories. Table 4 reflects how the agencies plan to obligate operational funds and Table 5 supporting 

research funds. The service categories evolve over time, as applications change with technology and 

with societal needs. The service category definitions are described below:

Service Category Definitions

• Basic Services. Basic services include the basic meteorological service system, to include 

observations, public weather forecasts, severe weather warnings and advisories, and the 

meteorological satellite activities of NOAA. Basic services also include the operations and 

supporting research of other Federal agencies that have been identified as contributing to basic 

meteorological services.

• Agriculture and Land Management Meteorological Services. Agricultural and land management 

meteorological services are those services and facilities established to meet the requirements of the 

agricultural industries and Federal, state, and local agencies charged with the protection and 

maintenance of the Nation's land areas. Meteorological services specifically tailored for wildland 

fire management are reported under the wildland fire weather service category.

• Aviation Services. Aviation services are those specialized meteorological services and facilities 

established to meet the requirements of general, commercial, and military aviation. Civil programs 

that are directly related to services solely for aviation and military programs in support of 

land-based aviation and medium- or long-range missile operations are included. Detailed aviation 

services/products for specific areas include, but are not limited to, ceiling and visibility, convective 

hazards, en route winds and temperatures, ground de-icing, in-flight icing, terminal winds and 

temperatures, turbulence, volcanic ash, and other airborne hazardous materials.

• Climate Services. Climate services are specialized meteorological and hydrological services 

established to meet the requirements of Federal, state, and local agencies for information on the 

historical, current, and future state of the earth system. Climate services include observations, 

monitoring, assessments, predictions, and projections of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and land 

surface systems.

• Emergency Response and Homeland Security Services. Emergency response and homeland 

security services are those specialized meteorological services and facilities established to meet the 

requirements of Federal, state, and local agencies responding to natural disasters and security 

incidents. This category includes the use of atmospheric transport and dispersion (ATD) models for 

predicting the dispersion of airborne toxic substances; it also includes natural disaster monitoring 

and prediction services and the transport of water-borne toxic substances not included in basic 

services. 

• Hydrometeorology and Water Resources Services. Hydrometeorology and water resources 

services are those specialized meteorological services and facilities that combine atmospheric 

science, hydrology, and water resources in order to meet the requirements of Federal, state, and 

local agencies for information on the effects of precipitation events on infrastructure, water 

supplies, and waterways. These products and services also meet the needs of the general public in 

the conduct of everyday activities and for the protection of lives and property.

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Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

• Military Services. Military services are those meteorological operations, services, and capabilities 

established to meet the unique requirements of military user commands and their component 

elements. Programs and services that are not uniquely military in nature are reported under another 

service category (e.g., Basic Services, Aviation Services [civilian], Surface transportation Services, 

or Emergency Response and Homeland Security Services).

• Space Weather Services. Space Weather Services are those specialized meteorological services 

and facilities established to meet the needs of users for information on space weather conditions 

and space weather storms that can affect terrestrial systems, space systems, Earth’s atmosphere, 

and the space environment. Space weather services include monitoring and alerting of space 

weather storms and their effects on technological infrastructure and human safety. Early warning of 

an approaching space weather storm, so that timely protective response is possible, is an important 

part of space weather services.

• Surface Transportation. Surface transportation services are those specialized meteorological 

services and facilities established to meet the weather information needs of the following surface 

transportation sectors: roadways, long-haul railways, the marine transportation system, rural and 

urban transit, pipeline systems, and airport ground operations. The roadway sector includes state 

and Federal highways and all state and local roads and streets. The marine transportation system 

includes coastal and inland waterways, ports and harbors, and the intermodal terminals serving 

them. Rural and urban transit includes bus and van service on roadways and rail lines for 

metropolitan subway and surface “light-rail” systems.

• Wildland Fire Weather Services. Wildland fire weather services are those specialized 

meteorological services and facilities established to meet the requirements of the wildfire 

management community at the Federal, state, tribal, and local levels. The primary areas of service 

are to support the reduction of wildfire initiation potential and the mitigation of both human and 

environmental impacts once initiation does occur. Services can include support to first responders 

and land managers and climate services tailored to wildland fire management.

• Other Specialized Services. Other specialized services include weather and climate information 

services and facilities established to meet the special needs of user agencies or constituencies not 

included in basic services or the preceding service categories. This service category includes any 

efforts to integrate the social sciences into meteorological operations, applications, and services not 

already described in the preceding sections.

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Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-30
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

Table 6 Personnel Supporting Meteorological Operations and Research

This table includes both current and FY 2016 requested personnel (Federal (FTE), Contractor, 

Military) required to perform or support meteorological operations and supporting research. The total

federal agency staffing requested for FY 2016 is 13,839.

Table 7 Interagency Fund Transfers

This table summarizes the reimbursement of funds from one agency to another during FY 2015. 

Agencies routinely enter into reimbursable agreements when they determine an agency can provide a 

given activity more cost-effectively. While specific activities and amounts may vary from year-to-year, 

the pattern reflects a significant level of interagency cooperation.

Agency Federal Contractor Military*

Current 

FY 2015 Federal Contractor Military*

Requested 

FY 2016 %CHG

% of FY 16 

TOTAL

Agriculture 103 8 0 111 94 6 0 100 -9.9 0.7

Commerce/NOAA Subtotal 6161 1091 0 7252 6079 2001 0 8080 11.4 58.4

 NWS 4638 741 0 5379 4540 786 0 5326 -1.0 38.5

 NESDIS 885 87 0 972 885 951 0 1836 88.9 13.3

 OAR** 402 201 0 603 416 201 0 617 2.3 4.5

 NOS 115 62 0 177 117 63 0 180 1.7 1.3

 OMAO 121 0 0 121 121 0 0 121 0.0 0.9

Defense Subtotal 562 105 3733 4400 502 103 3679 4284 -2.6 31.0

 Air Force 440 66 2948 3454 380 63 2894 3337 -3.4 24.1

 Navy 75 18 415 508 75 18 415 508 0.0 3.7

 Marine Corps 0 0 370 370 0 0 370 370 0.0 2.7

 Army 47 21 0 68 47 22 0 69 1.5 0.5

Homeland Security-USCG 1 0 107 108 1 0 107 108 0.0 0.8

Interior/BLM Subtotal 46 7 0 53 47 7 0 54 1.9 0.4

 BLM Soil/Water/Air Program 10 0 0 10 10 0 0 10 0.0 0.1

 BLM Fire Weather Program 28 4 0 32 29 4 0 33 3.1 0.2

 NPS 8 3 0 11 8 3 0 11 0.0 0.1

 USGS 12 0 0 12 15 0 0 15 25.0 0.1

Transportation Subtotal 152 967 0 1119 152 967 0 1119 0.0 8.1

 FHWA 3 3 0 6 3 3 0 6 0.0 0.0

 FAA 149 964 0 1113 149 964 0 1113 0.0 8.0

EPA 41 12 0 53 43 12 0 55 3.8 0.4

NASA 10 10 0 20 10 10 0 20 0.0 0.1

NRC 7 0 0 7 7 0 0 7 0.0 0.1

DOE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

DOS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Smithsonian 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 0.0 0.0

NSF 10 0 0 10 10 0 0 10 0.0 0.1

Totals 13135 13839 5.4 100.0

* Active Duty (does not include National Guard or Reserve)

** all research

1-31
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

Supporting

Transferred from: To: Operations Research

DOC/NOAA

NESDIS/NCEI NASA/LaRC/DEVELOP 75 0

NESDIS/NCEI NASA/LaRC 75 0

NESDIS/NCEI NRL 50 0

NESDIS/WALLOPS NASA 543 0

NOAA/NESDIS/FBANKS DOD/ARMY 11 0

OAR DOE 4076

OAR USDA 231

DHS

USFA DOI/BLM-FA 0 Lightning

FEMA DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI 100

USDA

USDA/USFS DOI/BLM-OFA 649 RAWS maintenance contracts

USDA/USFS DOI/BLM 20 Lightning

USDA/NRCS USDA/USFS 43 Snow Survey support

USDA/NRCS DOI 57 Snow Survey support

USDA/NRCS DOI/NPS 2 Snow Survey support

DOD

SERDP DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI 0 251.3

Air Force DOC/NOAA/NESDIS 15249

Air Force DOC/NOAA/NWS 4089 615

Air Force DOC/OFCM 145

Air Force DOI/USGS 432

Air Force NASA 380

Air Force NSF/UCAR/NCAR 1020

Navy DOC/NOAA/OAR

Army OFCM

USACE NOAA/NWS 205

USACE DOI/USGS 20085

USACE USDA NRCS

USACE DOC/NOAA/OAR

DOD DOI/BLM OFA 17

DOI

USGS DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI 0 3.5

USGS DOC/NOAA/NESDIS 390

DOI/BLM DOC/NOAA/NESDIS 15

DOI/BLM SWA USDA-NIFA 62

DOI/BLM SWA USDA 50 NRCS

USGS DOC/NOAA/OAR 100

DOI/NPS USDA 20 NRCS

DOI/NPS USDA 336 National Atmospheric Deposition Program

DOI/NPS EPA 256 CASTNet Filter Pack Analysis

DOI/BOR USDA 43 NRCS

DOI/NPS USDA 397

National Atmospheric 

Deposition Program

DOI/NPS EPA 288

CASTNet Filter Pack 

Analysis

DOI/BOR USDA NRCS

DOI DOC/NOAA/OAR 35

DOI/BLM SWA USDA-NIFA 62

DOI/BLM SWA USDA 50 NRCS

DOT

FAA Weather DOC/NOAA/NWS 13653

IAA-Center Weather 

Service Unit

FAA Weather DOC/NOAA/NWS 65 IAA

DOT DOC/NOAA/OAR 446

NASA

NASA/GSFC DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI 0 181.6

NASA GSIF DOC/NOAA/NESDIS 90

DOD/USAF/45th Space Wing 800 0

DOC/NOAA/NDBC 50

DOE DOC/NOAA/OAR 2481

State/Local USDA 284 NRCS

DOI/BLM-FA 238 RAWS maintenance contracts

FY2015 Funds ($K) Estimated or Planned

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Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

Table 8 Facilities/Locations/Systems Taking Meteorological Observations

This table shows the number of facilities/locations/systems at which the Federal agencies carry out or 

oversee the taking of various types of meteorological observations. 

TABLE 8 Facilities/Locations/Systems Taking Meteorological Observations 

No. of 2015

TYPE OF OBSERVATION by AGENCY Locations

Surface, land

Commerce (NOAA/NWS all types) 29315

ASOS: 315 COOP: 

9000 MESONET: 

20000

Commerce (NOAA/OAR manned 

Atmospheric Baseline Observations) 6

Commerce (NOAA/OAR Climate 

Reference Network) 114

Commerce (NOAA/NWS/INL Mesonet) 35

Idaho National 

Laboratory (INL) 

Mesonest used by 

Pocatello Weather 

Service Forecast Office. 

35 according to the 

NOSC.

Commerce (NOAA/NWS Weather 

Monitoring Stations) 16

Commerce (NOAA/OAR/ARL SORD 

Mesonet) 22

Special Operations And 

Research Division 

(SORD) 

Air Force (U.S. & Overseas) 184

Navy (U.S. & Overseas) 68

Marine Corps (U.S. & Overseas) 24

Army (U.S. & Overseas) 23

Transportation (FAA Contract Wx Obsg 

Stn)* 136

Transportation (FAA Auto Wx Obsg Stn -

AWOS) 188

Transportation (FAA Auto Wx Sensor Sys 

- AWSS) 44

Transportation (FAA Auto Sfc Obsg Sys -

ASOS)** 571

Transportation (FAA Flight Service 

Stations in Alaska)*** 17

Transportation (FHWA-Road Wx Obsg 

Stn) 2437

Homeland Security (USCG Coastal) 50

Interior (NPS Air Program) 32

Interior (BLM Soil/Water/Air Program) 481

Interior (BLM Office of Fire and Aviation) 991

Interior (USGS Geomagnetic Program) 14

Agriculture (NRCS active manual snow 

courses) 1112

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Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

Agriculture (NRCS automated SNOTEL 

stations) 856

Agriculture (NRCS automated SNOLITE 

stations) 22

Agriculture (NRCS automated SCAN 

stations) 220

Agriculture (Agricultural Research Service) 26

Forest Service Smoke Monitors 49

Forest Service RAWS 964

Forest Service (Research) 98

NASA (All Types) 1

Total 38116

*Note: All 136 FAA Contract Wx Obsg Stations are 

colocated with a FAA or Commerce (NWS) ASOS

**Note: Transportation (FAA oversight Auto Sfc Obsg 

Sys, non-Fed inspected 1400) 

***Note: 17 Flight Service Stations in Alaska since 

2007 owned and supported by Harris Corporation

Surface, marine

Commerce (NOAA/NOS/SEAS-equipped 

ships) 622

Commerce (NOAA/NOS/PORTS) 67

stations with met 

sensors

Commerce (NOAA/NOS/NWLON) 180

stations with met 

sensors

Commerce (NOAA/NWS Coastal-Marine 

Autom Network) 47

Commerce (NOAA/NWS/NDBC Buoys--

moored) 101

does not include TAO 

and DART

Commerce (NOAA/OAR/AOML Buoys--

drifting) 1238

Navy (Ships with met personnel) 29

Navy (Ships without met personnel) 259

Homeland Security (USCG Cutters) 249

Total 2792

Upper air, balloon

Commerce (NOAA/NWS U.S.) 92

Commerce (NOAA/NWS Foreign, 

Cooperative) 10

Cooperative Hurricane 

Upper-Air Stations 

(CHUAS)

Commerce (NOAA/NWS met/ozone/water 

vapor) 135

Note: There has been a 

significant increase in 

aircraft observation 

systems compared to 

25 last year

Air Force, Mobile 1

Army, Fixed (U.S. & Overseas) 10

Army, Mobile (U.S. and Overseas) 8

Navy, Fixed (U.S. & Overseas)

Navy, Mobile(U.S. & Overseas)

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Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

Navy, Ships

Marine Corps, Mobile 13

Total 269

Atmospheric Profilers

Commerce (NOAA/NWS) (404 and 449 

MHz) 39

Air Force (Eastern Range) (915 MHz)

Air Force (Eastern Range) (SODARS)

Air Force (Western Range) (915 MHz)

Air Force (Western Range) (50 MHz)

Air Force (Western Range SODARS)

Army 6

NASA (50 MHz) 1

Doppler weather radar (WSR-88D) sites

Commerce (NOAA/NWS) 122

Air Force (U.S. & Overseas) 26

Transportation-FAA (Off CONUS) 13

Total 161

Doppler weather radar (Not WSR-88D) 

sites

Air Force (Fixed, Deployed)) 20

Army 3

Navy (Fixed)

Commerce (NOAA/NWS Research 

Phased Array Radar- NWRT) 1

Total 24

Airport Terminal Doppler weather radars

Transportation-FAA (Commissioned) 45

Total 45

Conventional radar (non-Doppler) sites

Commerce (NOAA/NWS) 0 legacy radars removed 

in 2013

Air Force, Mobile Units

Army (U.S. and Overseas)

Transportation (FAA (WSP)) 34

Total 34

Off-site WSR-88D Principle User 

Processors (PUPs)

Air Force (OPUPs only) 7

Marine Corps (U.S. & Overseas)

Army

Total 7

Weather reconnaissance Aircraft

Commerce (NOAA/OMAO) 3

Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) -

WC-130J 10

Total 13

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Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

Geostationary meteorological satellites 

(No. operating)

GOES 12 - South America Decommissioned

GOES 13 - Operational East 1

GOES 14 - On-Orbit Storage 1

GOES 15 - Operational West 1

NESDIS Total 3

http://www.oso.noaa.go

v/goesstatus/

Polar meteorological satellites (No. 

operating)

METOP-B - AM Primary 1

METOP-A - AM Backup 1

NOAA 15 - AM Secondary 1

NOAA 16 - PM Secondary Decommissioned 

NOAA 17 - AM Backup Decommissioned 

NOAA 18 - PM Secondary 1

NOAA 19 - PM Prime Service Mission 1

SNPP - PM Primary 1

NESDIS Sub-Total 6 http://www.oso.noaa.go

v/poesstatus/

Air Force (2 primary, 2 secondary, 2 

tactical) 6

Navy (WINDSAT and GFO) 1

Total 13

Electric Field Mills (Surface)

Army 5

Total 6

Lightning Detection Systems

Air Force (Eastern and Western Range 

Cloud-Ground) 2

Air Force (Eastern and Western RangeNLDN & Total Ltng Sys) 2

Army 6

Total 10

Rocketsondes 

Army Total 1

1-36
SECTION 2

FEDERAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND 

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs
Federal Coordination and Planning

FEDERAL COORDINATION AND PLANNING

FOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING 

RESEARCH

STATUTORY BASIS FOR THE FEDERAL COORDINATION PROCESS

In 1963, Congress and the Executive Office of the President expressed concern about the 

adequacy of the coordination of Federal meteorological activities. In response, Congress directed 

in Section 304 of Public Law 87-843 (the Appropriations Act for State, Justice, Commerce, and 

Related Agencies) that the Bureau of the Budget prepare an annual horizontal budget for all 

meteorological programs in the Federal agencies. The Bureau of the Budget (now the Office of 

Management and Budget, OMB) issued a report in 1963 entitled Survey of Federal 

Meteorological Activities. That report described each agency’s program for meteorological 

services and products and detailed the relationships among the programs of the various agencies. 

The report revealed close cooperation but little evidence of systematic coordination. Based on its 

survey, the Bureau of the Budget issued a set of ground rules to be followed in the coordination 

process. It established a permanent general philosophy for assignment and assessment of agency 

roles in the field of meteorology and set certain goals to be achieved by the coordination process. 

The Bureau of the Budget tasked the Department of Commerce (DOC) to establish the 

coordinating mechanism in concert with the other Federal agencies. It also reaffirmed the 

concept of having a central agency—the DOC—responsible for providing common 

meteorological facilities and services and clarified the responsibilities of other agencies for 

providing meteorological services specific to their mandated missions. 

The implementation of these directives by DOC led to the creation of OFCM and the 

appointment of the first Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting 

Research (the Federal Coordinator). The Federal Committee for Meteorological Services and 

Supporting Research (FCMSSR) was established in 1964 to provide policy-level agency 

representation and guidance to the Federal Coordinator in addressing agency priorities, 

requirements, and issues related to services, operations, and supporting research. The FCMSSR 

also resolves agency differences that arise during the coordination of meteorological activities 

and the preparation of Federal plans. 

The mission of the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting 

Research (OFCM) is to ensure the effective use of Federal meteorological resources by leading the 

systematic coordination of operational weather requirements, services, and supporting research among 

the Federal agencies. Its high-level focus includes cross-agency needs and requirements, issues and 

problems, studies, reports, plans, handbooks, and crosscut reviews, assessments, and analyses.

The OFCM operates with policy guidance from the Federal Committee for Meteorological Services 

and Supporting Research (FCMSSR). The principal work in coordinating meteorological activities 

and in the preparation and maintenance of OFCM reports, plans, and other documents is accomplished 

by the OFCM staff with the advice and assistance of the Interdepartmental Committee for 

Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (ICMSSR) and more than 30 committees, working 

groups, and joint action groups. The members who serve on these entities are Federal agency 

representatives.

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

FCMSSR comprises representatives of the 15 Federal agencies that engage in meteorological 

activities or supporting research, have a major need for meteorological services, or set policy and 

direction for such services and research. These 15 agencies are the Departments of Agriculture 

(USDA), Commerce (DOC), Defense (DOD), Energy (DOE), Homeland Security (DHS), the 

Interior (DOI), State (DOS), and Transportation (DOT); the Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Science Foundation 

(NSF), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and Nuclear Regulatory Commission

(NRC); and OMB and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The Under 

Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, who is also the Administrator of the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), serves as the FCMSSR 

Chairperson. 

OFCM COORDINATING INFRASTRUCTURE

The OFCM coordinating infrastructure diagram on page 2-5 shows the current committees, 

working groups (WG), and joint action groups (JAG) through which OFCM carries out its 

mission of ensuring the effective use of Federal meteorological resources by coordinating 

operational weather requirements, services, and supporting research among the Federal agencies. 

FCMSSR is shown at the top of the diagram, as the policy guidance advisor to its subordinate 

elements and the Federal Coordinator.

• The Interdepartmental Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research

(ICMSSR) is the primary Executive-level management body of the Federal coordinating 

structure. ICMSSR provides advice to OFCM, implements FCMSSR policies, and oversees 

the committees and working groups that address observing systems, weather operations and 

services, operational processing centers, and automated weather information systems. The 

full membership of ICMSSR is shown on the inside cover of this Federal Plan.

• Program Councils can be established under ICMSSR to coordinate key programs or mission 

areas to ensure they meet interagency needs. Additionally, Program Councils coordinate 

development and oversee the preparation and implementation of national program plans, 

which include research and development (R&D), systems development, validation and 

integration, acquisition strategy, operational concepts, agency roles, and management.

Currently, all Program Council functions are being conducted by the ICMSSR.

• The committees, working groups, and joint action groups operate at the program and working 

levels to provide: (1) a forum for each agency to report activities, challenges, and 

achievements; (2) a mechanism to coordinate change and problem solving; (3) a way to 

collect, document, and consolidate agency requirements and inventories; (4) oversight for 

coordinated system development; (5) a vehicle for coordinating with other groups internal 

and external to the coordinating infrastructure; and (6) a mechanism for the preparation of 

studies, agreements, standards, protocols, reports, and national plans. Working Groups are 

intended to serve enduring coordination functions. Joint Action Groups are temporary 

elements established to address specific, short-term objectives

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Federal Coordination and Planning

Figure 1The Federal Coordinating Infrastructure.

Using these multiagency groups, OFCM pursues the following objectives as the means to 

achieve its mission:

• Document agency programs and activities in a series of national plans and reports that enable 

agencies to adjust their individual ongoing programs, and provide a means for 

communicating new ideas and approaches to fulfill requirements.

• Provide structure and programs to promote continuity in development and coordination of 

interagency plans and procedures for meteorological services and supporting research.

• Prepare analyses, summaries, or evaluations of agency meteorological programs and plans 

that provide a factual basis for the executive and legislative branches to make appropriate 

decisions on the allocation of funds.

• Review federal weather programs and federal requirements for meteorological services and 

supporting research. This review may suggest additions or revisions to current or proposed 

2-5
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

programs or identify opportunities for improved efficiency, reliability, or cost avoidance 

through coordinated actions and integrated programs.

OFCM HIGHLIGHTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 AND PLANS FOR FISCAL YEAR 

2016

Federal coordination activities during FY 2015 and plans for FY 2016 are described here, 

organized by program/mission area and ICMSSR standing committee. The highlights begin with 

activities reporting directly to the Federal Coordinator, followed by the program/mission area

and the ICMSSR standing committees.

Activities Reporting to the Federal Coordinator

Support for Plans and Analyses Mandated by the COASTAL Act of 2012

Congress passed the Consumer Option for an Alternative System to Allocate Losses 

(COASTAL) Act in June 2012 to lower the cost of the National Flood Insurance Program by 

better discerning wind versus storm surge damages in cases where little tangible evidence 

beyond a building’s foundation remains for the proper adjustment of insurance claims after a 

hurricane or tropical storm. This law requires NOAA to produce detailed post-storm analyses 

following named storms that affect the coastal zone of the United States. These analyses are to 

be submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within 90 days. NOAA is 

required to make all data and post-storm assessments available to the public and to maintain an 

online database. The law mandates that the database and post-storm model be operational by 

December 28, 2013 (540 days after enactment).

The COASTAL Act also requires that NOAA, in consultation with OFCM, provide several 

interim deliverables to Congress, including an assessment of current capabilities and needs to 

provide the required post-storm analyses. The Federal Coordinator established the Joint Action 

Group for the COASTAL Act Post-Storm Analysis (JAG/CAPSA) to develop a COASTAL Act 

Capabilities Development Plan (CACDP) in collaboration with NOAA. The plan, which was 

submitted to the NOAA Administrator on April 15, 2013 and released to the Department of 

Commerce on June 7, 2013, provides for the collection of the required observational (covered) 

data to support post-storm assessments. 

In 2015, the JAG/CAPSA, was realigned under the Working Group for Disaster Impact

Assessments and Plans: Weather and Water (WG/DIAP). The observing protocol to support 

collection of data for the post-storm analyses required by the COASTAL Act was published in 

December 2013, exercised in 2015 for Hurricane Erika, and will be included in subsequent 

editions of the National Plan for Disaster Impact Assessments: Weather and Water Data

(Publication FCM-P33).

Programs and Mission Areas

National Aviation Weather Program 

OFCM supports implementation of the National Aviation Weather Program, which is a broad 

interagency effort to advance meteorological standards, improve products, enhance services, and 

2-6
Federal Coordination and Planning

conduct research that contributes to the overall goal of providing state-of-the-art information to 

aviation end users where and when they need it. OFCM also participates in a variety of Next 

Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) interagency planning office activities, 

including the NextGen Weather Advisor meetings, NextGen Executive Weather Panel meetings, 

and the Research, Engineering, and Development (RE&D) initiative. OFCM coordinated with 

the IPO on several activities related to wind turbine radar interference, including arranging an 

opportunity for several agencies to participate in a briefing on a screening tool for wind turbine 

interference. Meanwhile, OFCM continued its participation in the Friends and Partners of 

Aviation Weather collaboration. OFCM staff also supported aviation-weather initiatives related 

to meteorological codes and observing practices under the auspices of other OFCM coordinating 

groups.

OFCM will continue the collaborative work within the NextGen structure in FY 2016, but will 

focus largely on related code and observing practice issues being addressed in other groups. 

National Operational Processing Centers 

In FY 2015, ICMSSR deactivated the National Operational Processing Centers Program Council 

(NOPC). The ICMSSR assumed all NOPC responsibilities including senior management 

oversight for the Committee for Operational Processing Centers (COPC) and facilitates 

improved collaboration among the NOPC member organizations that have direct oversight of 

COPC members. All NOPC principal members, NOAA National Weather Service (NWS);

NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS); the U.S. 

Navy Meteorology and Oceanography Command; and the U.S. Air Force Directorate of Weather

are represented on the ICMSSR. The ICMSSR will set policy; provide strategic vision, planning, 

program guidance, and interagency funding authority; identifies future roadmap capabilities for 

their own agencies; determines how to effectively position themselves for future requirements 

and collaboration; and identify coordinated approaches to solving the Nation’s highest priority 

environmental information needs.

National Space Weather Program 

Over the past 20 years, the National Space Weather Program Council (NSWPC) has sought 

closer coordination of space weather science, research, and services to the Nation. In 2014, the 

NSWPC directed the Committee for Space Weather (CSW) to develop an implementation plan 

to achieve the goals described in the 2010 National Space Weather Program Strategic Plan and, 

in response, CSW established the Joint Action Group for Space Weather Implementation 

Planning (JAG/SWIP). The action group comprises six working groups to address the five goals 

of the Strategic Plan as well as disaster preparedness, readiness, and response. Development of 

the implementation plan began in April 2014, supported by more than 50 subject matter experts 

from all nine NSWP agencies.

NSWPC, CSW and JAG/SWIP activities were suspended in October 2014 in order for the 

agencies to support the OSTP Space Weather Operations, Readiness, and Mitigation (SWORM) 

Task Force. Activities of the NSWP will resume after the OSTP publishes the National Space 

Weather Strategy (NSWS) and National Space Weather Action Plan (SWAP) which was largely 

based the draft NSWP Implementation Plan. OFCM will collaborate with OSTP to manage the 

NSWP and execute space weather elements of the SWAP.

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

Multifunction Phased Array Radar

The Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR) initiative seeks to consolidate the radar 

surveillance missions of four agencies: DOD, DHS, DOC/NOAA, and DOT/Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), reducing the number of radars required and consolidating operations and 

logistics. The MPAR Working Group, comprising various elements of the four stakeholder 

agencies as well as representatives from several other interested agencies, meets several times a 

year to review program progress. The MPAR initiative achieved several milestones this during 

FY 2015:

• The 10-panel demonstrator, the first S-band dual pol weather array to collect precipitation 

data in the environment was assembled at Lincoln Lab from the 64-element dual pol panels 

that have been under development and delivered to the National Severe Storms Laboratory 

for testing. Using a rudimentary backend designed for taking experimental data, the 

demonstrator is providing the first dual pol data precipitation data from an active array.

• Planning for the MPAR Advanced Technology Demonstrator (ATD) was formalized in FY 

2015 and moved along rapidly, from initial planning proposal in October 2014 through a 

series of meetings to Preliminary Design Review in August 2105. The planning team settled 

on a 76 panel antenna with 24 overlapped subarrays, a backend leveraging the Navy’s 

Affordable Common Radar Architecture, highly flexible off-the-shelf mounting pedestal to 

facilitate calibration, applications software architecture, and National Weather Radar Testbed 

facility reuse concept. 

• An updated siting study that added military base air traffic control radars was completed, 

expanding the number of potential radar replacements to 619. 

Efforts to socialize the MPAR initiative continued, with a briefing at the Johns Hopkins 

University Applied Physics Lab, a paper presented at the annual American Meteorological 

Society (AMS) meeting, and submission of a paper for a phased array radar edition of the IEEE 

Proceedings. In addition, OFCM continued to represent the interests of MPAR as NOAA Senior 

Steering Group representative on the interagency Wind Turbine Radar Interference Mitigation 

Working Group and a new effort to investigate using funding for spectrum reallocation to offset 

MPAR costs.

Work planned for FY 2016 includes the following:

• Continued testing of the 10-panel demonstrator and analysis of the results to provide 

important insights into a number of relevant issues, including sensitivity, cross-polar 

isolation, and antenna calibration.

• Continued planning for the ATD, including Critical Design Review in January 2016. 

• Planning and conducting the MPAR Technology Progress Seminar in Washington D.C. in 

April 2016.

• Presentation of a paper at the Annual AMS meeting in January. 

• Potential analysis of the potential for leveraging spectrum offsets.

• Continued interagency engagement in issues like wind turbine radar interference to socialize 

MPAR potential.

2-8
Federal Coordination and Planning

Committees, Working Groups and Joint Action Groups

Committee for Operational Processing Centers

In FY 2015, COPC continued to facilitate the exchange of information concerning numerical 

weather and ocean prediction modeling efforts, data resources or problems, and atmospheric, 

oceanographic, and satellite products for NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental 

Prediction and Office of Satellite and Product Operations, the Air Force 557 Weather Wing, the 

U.S. Navy’s Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center and Naval Oceanographic 

Office. Semiannual meetings of COPC continued in FY 2015 and are expected to continue in FY 

2016.

Working Group for Cooperative Support and Backup

Activities under COPC and its Working Group for Cooperative Support and Backup included:

• Exchange of JMA’s Himawari-8 data for situational awareness, MTSAT replacement, and 

GOES-R readiness capabilities. NOAA STAR is distributing the 16 channel data to NCEP 

and the Navy Centers in a non-operational environment. Air Force is distributing 5 channel 

data via the MARK IVB and sharing that same feed with FNMOC. 

• Coordination and planning data exchange using NESDIS’ future enterprise data 

dissemination service called Product Dissemination and Access (PDA). Development of a 

process to support DoD’s existing legacy data flow purposes and to move new data 

requirements to the PDA as the least disruptive approach forward.

Working Group for Observational Data

The Working Group for Observational Data (WG/OD) facilitates the acquisition, processing, and 

exchange of observational data among the national operational processing centers (OPCs) and 

other related data centers. 

During FY 2015, the working group satisfied a number of interagency satellite data requests, 

resolved several NEXRAD radar data exchange issues, and assisted in resolving a radar mosaic 

gap in the Guantanamo Bay area. The Working Group continued efforts to update the 

Environmental Satellite Data Annex and moved forward with the initiative to develop a 

Conventional (surface) Data Annex which will outline the principal guidelines and procedures 

for conventional (surface) data acquisition, processing, and exchange.

In FY 2016, the Working Group will continue its efforts to meet interagency observational data 

acquisition, processing, and exchange needs including:

• Collaborative work among the national operational processing centers (OPC) to discover, 

report, share, and track to resolution critical metadata errors which, if unresolved, may cause 

a significant impact to DOD numerical models and products. 

• Collaborative efforts specifically to resolve numerous upper air metadata errors resulting 

from the WMO directed transition from Traditional Alphanumeric Code (TAC) forms to 

Binary Universal Form for the Representation of meteorological information (BUFR)

2-9
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

• Update and maintenance of an OPC-comprehensive observational data inventory reflecting 

data streams used by all OPCs

• Update of the Environmental Satellite Data Annex and development of a Conventional 

(Surface) Data Annex to the Memorandum of Understanding for Data Acquisition, 

Processing, and Exchange 

• New satellite data and ocean data sources and products

• Incorporation of the Space Weather data sector into working group activities

Joint Action Group for Centralized Communications Management

The Joint Action Group for Centralized Communications Management worked to create a second 

data exchange point between NOAA and DOD in Boulder, Colorado.

Committee for Operational Environmental Satellites

Responding to stakeholder desire to improve interagency communication and coordination of 

matters regarding the use environmental satellites the Committee for Operational Environmental 

Satellites (COES) was re-established in 2014. COES helps advance interagency goals better 

coordination of operational environmental satellite systems planning. 

COES conducted five meetings in FY2015 to address its stated goals. It continued to assess the 

need for interagency satellite requirements and conducted a systematic review of satellite 

capabilities available to the operational weather community. It provided an advocacy letter to 

NOAA on the interagency need for operational geosynchronous environmental satellite coverage 

of the Indian Ocean which supported the US delegation to the annual Coordinating Group for 

Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) of the World Meteorological Organization. COES also 

consolidated interagency need statements to support NOAA continuation of the Joint Polar 

Satellite System near-constant crosstrack night visual imaging capability.

Finally, COES and OFCM organized, led, and provided speakers a session dedicated to federal 

agency and commercial use of NOAA satellite systems at the NOAA Satellite Conference.

Working Group for Hurricane and Winter Storms Operations and Research 

and the Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference

In FY 2015, the Working Group for Hurricane and Winter Storms Operations and Research 

(WG/HWSOR) continued to manage the interagency operations plans for hurricanes and winter 

storms and address related issues relevant to the Federal meteorological community. 

The National Hurricane Operations Plan (NHOP) describes individual agency responsibilities 

and prescribes operational procedures, common reference points, formats for data exchange, 

tropical cyclone names and pronunciations, and other information to achieve economy and 

efficiency in the provision of tropical cyclone forecasting and warning services to the Nation. 

The plan is reviewed and updated annually in advance of the hurricane season to address action 

items and implement agreements reached at the Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference (IHC). 

The working group published the 53nd edition of the NHOP in FY 2015, including updated 

guidance on notification procedures among the tropical cyclone forecasting centers, DOD 

2-10
Federal Coordination and Planning

weather reconnaissance support to NOAA, tropical cyclone names and pronunciations, data 

codes, and air traffic control-related procedures.

WG/HWSOR also manages the National Winter Storms Operations Plan (NWSOP) to 

coordinate the activities of the federal agencies providing enhanced observations of severe winter 

storms that affect the coastal regions of the United States. The plan focuses on the coordination 

of requirements for DOD and NOAA aircraft reconnaissance observations with the goal of 

improving the accuracy and timeliness of winter storm forecasts and warning services. The 

current NWSOP was published prior to the 2012-2013 winter season and minor changes for the 

2013-2014 winter season were not deemed significant enough to warrant an early update to the 

plan. A new edition of the plan will be published in FY 2016.

The WG/HWSOR depends on the annual IHC to meet its hurricane-related responsibilities. The 

following paragraphs summarize the FY 2015 IHC and Tropical Cyclone Research Forum.

OFCM hosts the IHC each year to provide a forum for the responsible federal agencies, together 

with representatives from the academic community, industry, and other user communities such 

as emergency management, to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season and make 

improvements to the Nation's hurricane forecasting and warning program. OFCM develops the 

agenda with input from WG/HWSOR and the Working Group for Tropical Cyclone Research 

(WG/TCR).

OFCM hosted the 69th Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference and Tropical Cyclone Research 

Forum March 2-5, 2015, in a combination face-to-face and online, virtual conference. The 

primary face-to-face locations were the Jacksonville, Florida, and the National Hurricane Center 

in Miami, Florida. The distribution of attendees included 83 in-person and 60 virtual attendees 

representing six federal agencies as well as academia, private industry, and the media. 

The theme was “Tropical Cyclone Operations and Research: Setting our Future Course.” The 

IHC and forum sessions included the following topics:

• Review of the 2014 Tropical Cyclone Season.

• Research Priorities of the Operational Centers.

• Transitioning Research to Operations

• Observations and Observing Strategies

• Advances in Tropical Cyclone Model Development and Evaluation

• Tropical Cyclone Plan Mid-Course Assessment—Operational Needs and Research Priorities

• Future of the IHC

• Products, Services, and Societal Impact

The action items developed at the conference are listed below:

• The OFCM will post forum presentations and this summary on the conference web page. 

(Complete)

• The OFCM will publish the annual National Hurricane Operations Plan (NHOP), to include 

changes recommended to and accepted by the WG/HWSOR, no later than May 1, 2015. 

(Complete)

• The OFCM will work with NOAA and the Navy to secure the funding and support for the 

Automated Tropical Cyclone Forecast (ATCF) system.

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

• Through the OFCM infrastructure, a strategic plan for improved tropical cyclone 

reconnaissance and surveillance systems and observations (manned, unmanned, space-based, 

etc.) will be developed.

• OFCM will complete and publish a mid-course assessment, to be conducted by the 

WG/TCR, on the Interagency Strategic Research Plan for Tropical Cyclones: The Way 

Ahead (FCM-P36-2007).

Working Group for Disaster Impact Assessments and Plans: Weather and 

Water Data

Disaster-relevant data acquired from many routine observing systems often do not provide data 

coverage and density sufficient to adequately document the effects of a major storm or flood or 

enable understanding of small-scale, localized weather and water processes. As a result, routine 

observations are supplemented by mobile observing system data and post-storm analysis of 

impact features, such as high water marks and wind damage, to fill information gaps and obtain 

more complete spatial coverage. Collecting this information contributes to determination of the 

intensity and magnitude of storms and may support Presidential disaster declarations. The

information may also be used in a number of other ways: to assess threat potential; validate 

emergency management and hurricane storm surge models; update FEMA flood insurance rate 

maps; assist in evaluating indeterminate loss causes; and improve forecasting models. 

Furthermore, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and various state agencies use 

the data to improve building codes and construction practices.

To improve the efficiency of data collection and promote sharing of data within an organized, 

interagency disaster impact assessment process, the Federal Coordinator established the Working 

Group for Disaster Impact Assessments and Plans: Weather and Water Data (WG/DIAP) in 

2010. The WG/DIAP published the National Plan for Disaster Impact Assessments: Weather and

Water Data (NPDIA) in October 2010. The plan documents the types of data required, the 

acquisition processes, and the coordinating procedures to be used leading up to, during, and 

following a significant storm event.

In response to the COASTAL Act of 2012 requirement to establish a protocol for data collection 

for post-storm assessments, the WG/DIAP developed a COASTAL Act Data Protocol Annex to 

the NPDIA. This annex outlines the interagency protocol for responding to storms that could 

come under provisions of the COASTAL Act of 2012. It describes the plan for capturing the 

necessary data and assembling it in NOAA’s Coastal Weather and Water Event Database 

(CWWED) for assimilation into NOAA’s Named Storm Event Model (NSEM). It also specifies 

how these data are made available to FEMA, other federal, state, and local government agencies,

private insurance adjusters, and the general public to help evaluate indeterminate loss causes and 

insurance coverage responsibilities. The next revision of the NPDIA will include the new 

COASTAL Act data protocol. 

Other upcoming changes to the NPDIA include the latest data collection protocol for response to 

tsunamis and the revised Enhanced Fujita (tornado) Scale now under development. OFCM is 

supporting the Enhanced Fujita Scale revision effort, participating in the main American Society 

of Civil Engineers committee and sub committees on radar, remote sensing, and in situ 

observations.

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Federal Coordination and Planning

Aerial support from the Civil Air Patrol provides one of the sources of pre-event and post-event 

data to support impact assessments. Under the OFCM-coordinated Air Force-NOAA 

Memorandum of Agreement for Civil Air Patrol support, in FY 2016 OFCM will continue to 

coordinate post-storm data acquisition surveys in response to natural disasters and agency 

requirements. The annual agreement between OFCM and the U.S. Air Force for reimbursable 

support funds Civil Air Patrol missions such as Alaska glacial lake damming assessments, 

tornado damage photos and video, and severe flooding imagery.

Working Group for Volcanic Ash 

The Working Group for Volcanic Ash (WG/VA) lays the groundwork for National volcanic ash 

policy and coordinates cooperative interagency efforts regarding volcanic ash products, services, 

procedures, and research, and oversees national volcanic ash operations for aviation in support of 

the ICAO International Airways Volcano Watch.

In FY 2016, the Working Group will continue new initiatives to revise the National Volcanic 

Ash Operations Plan for Aviation (NVAOPA) and the proposed North American Volcanic Ash 

Contingency Plan for Aviation. The NVAOPA revision will include the new structure of the Air 

Force weather function. 

Atmospheric Transport and Dispersion (ATD)

On June 9, 2015, OFCM sponsored a special session of the 19th annual George Mason University 

Atmospheric Transport and Dispersion Modeling Conference. The theme of the session was 

Observations and Modeling of Aerosols and Tracers: Potential Impacts for Two Governmental 

Programs. Subject matter experts from DOC/NOAA (National Weather Service Headquarters, 

National Weather Service/National Centers for Environmental Prediction, Office of Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Research/Air Resources Laboratory (ARL), and National Environmental Satellite, 

Data, and Information Service), Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NASA (Goddard Space Flight 

Center and Syneren Technologies Corporation), the US Navy, and the US Forest Service made 

presentations and answered questions during this session. 

The session highlighted the implications of agency ATD modeling and observations on two main 

government ATD related programs: the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), and the Next 

Generation Global Prediction System (NGGPS). However, planners took advantage of the broad 

expertise and experience of the presenters to provide a more diverse view of Federal activities in 

the ADT arena that went beyond JPSS and NGGPS advancements. OFCM will continue its 

partnership with GMU by sponsoring a session in the 2016 conference, which will be held at 

GMU in June.

Committee for Observing Systems and Serivces

In FY 2015 much of the OFCM work related to the Committee on Observing Systems and 

Services (formerly the Committee for Integrated Observing Systems (CIOS)) focused on 

collaboration with the American Meteorology Society (AMS) Nationwide Network of Networks 

Committee to investigate jointly sponsoring a forum on “Observing the Environment from the 

Ground Up” Discusses led to the decision to plan the forum for March 8-9, 2016 at the American 

Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington, DC. 

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

Other activities related to observing involved updates to Federal Meteorological Handbooks 

(FMHs).

• Work continued on a variety of issues related to surface observing and FMH-1, Surface 

Weather Observations and Reports. An update to the handbook has been delayed pending the 

resolution of some of the observing issues within the participating agencies. The publication 

of a change is anticipated in 2016.

• A new change to FMH-11,Doppler Radar Meteorological Observations (WSR-88D) Part A -

System Concepts, Responsibilities, and Procedures was completed by the NWS Radar 

Operations Center (ROC) and forwarded to OFCM for coordination and publication. After 

several rounds of staff coordination and further modifications, a final version of the change 

was complete and prepared for approval by ICMSSR. During FY 2015 the approval process 

will be completed and the new version will be published. Meanwhile, the ROC has also 

provided an update to Part C - WSR-88D Products and Algorithms, which is under review 

and will also be published in FY 2016. 

Joint Action Group for Unmanned Aerial Systems

OFCM aligned Joint Action Group for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for Environmental 

Monitoring (JAG/UAS-EM) activities with other groups working UAS development and 

utilization issues including the Interagency Coordinating Committee for Airborne Geosciences 

Research and Applications (ICCAGRA) and the NSTC Subcommittee for Unmanned Systems. 

The ICCAGRA meets semiannually to improve cooperation, foster awareness, facilitate 

communication among airborne instrument-sponsoring agencies, and serve as a resource to 

senior-level management on airborne geosciences issues. The Committee facilitates cooperation 

on the use of airborne platforms and payloads for individual investigators as well as national and 

international field campaigns. OFCM supports ICCAGRA through meeting participation and 

access to the OFCM federal meteorological coordinating infrastructure.

OFCM continues to support the activities of the CENRS Ocean Science and Technology 

Subcommittee’s work on unmanned systems. OFCM’s participation provides a connection to 

meteorological research and service providers and supports effective coordination of unmanned 

system applications across the federal enterprise.

Committee for Cooperative Research

Working Group for Tropical Cyclone Research

For additional information on tropical cyclone research, see the Working Group for Hurricane 

and Winter Storms Operations and Research and Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference 

section above.

In 2007, the Joint Action Group for Tropical Cyclone Research (JAG/TCR) completed the 

Interagency Strategic Research Plan for Tropical Cyclones: The Way Ahead. This plan presented 

a shared set of R&D priorities matched to operational requirements from the tropical cyclone 

forecast and warning centers and served as a baseline for NOAA’s Hurricane Forecast 

Improvement Program (HFIP). In 2008, 2010, and 2012 the Working Group for Tropical 

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Federal Coordination and Planning

Cyclone Research (WG/TCR), which succeeded the JAG/TCR for continuity, assessed agency 

research activities mapped against tropical cyclone research needs and operational priorities. The 

assessments have enabled WG/TCR to establish a successful process to accomplish the following 

tasks:

• Update the operational priorities.

• Evaluate how research is contributing to meeting operational priorities.

• Support informed research manager decisions on future investments.

• Facilitate interagency collaboration and coordination.

During the 2015 Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference (see above under Working Group for 

Hurricane and Winter Storms Operations and Research and the Interdepartmental Hurricane 

Conference) the WG/TCR co-chairs led a panel of the tropical cyclone forecast center directors 

in a discussion of changes implemented as a result of tropical cyclone research conducted since 

2007 and of on-going research priorities. The results of this discussion serve as a starting point 

for an assessment of the effectiveness of the 2007 plan. Resource constraints have impacted the 

WG’s development of a mid-course assessment. Instead, a final assessment is being considered 

and will likely be discussed at the 2016 IHC.

Working Group for Weather Information for Surface Transportation

In FY 2015, OFCM continued to stay engaged with the surface transportation community, 

participating in the AMS Intelligent Transportation Systems/Surface Transportation Weather 

Committee, including the face-to-face meeting at the AMS annual meeting. In addition, OFCM 

worked with the National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board (TRB), peer 

reviewing papers for the 2016 TRB Annual Meeting. 

Working Group for Meteorological Codes

In FY 2014, OFCM formed the Joint Action Group for IWXXM Implementation (METAR 

Transition) in response to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) initiative to 

transition the METAR family of codes (METAR, SPECI, TAF, and SIGMET) from the current 

traditional alphanumeric code (TAC) format to an Extensible Markup Language (XML)-based 

code called IWXXM-US. In 2015 the JAG began the process of addressing governance issues, 

which related closely to OFCM responsibilities for coordinating and documenting interagency 

agreements on observing practices and codes. In FY 2016 the JAG will develop a plan for 

transitioning the TAC format to IWXXM-US.

In addition, some of the expected revisions of Federal Meteorological Handbook No. 1, Surface 

Weather Observations and Reports described above (see the Committee for Observing Systems 

and Services ection above) will involve coding practices, which fall under the purview of the 

Working Group for Meteorological Codes.

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

OFCM External Coordination

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

OFCM reinvigorated dialog with OMB regarding the interagency coordination process and the 

requirement for a cross-agency budgetary view to the meteorological enterprise. The Federal 

Coordinator established new working relationships with the OMB program analysts for the 

agencies engaged in the meteorological enterprise. In 2016, work will begin to update the OFCM 

foundational documents similar to OMB Circular A-62.

Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) 

OFCM supported the Space Weather Operations, Readiness, and Mitigation (SWORM) task 

Force by providing all materials from the ongoing NSWP Space Weather Implementation Plan

activity and suspending other NSWP activities to allow maximum participation in this 

Presidentially-directed initiative. OFCM is working closely with OSTP to prepare for follow-on 

activities related to the Space Weather Action Plan due for release in late 2015.

OFCM also participates in the US Group for Earth Observations (USGEO) managed through 

OSTP. In 2015, OFCM participated in the USGEO Satellite Framework Task Force to develop a 

strategy to more leverage current and planned environmental satellite investments across the 

whole of the Federal government.

Additionally, OFCM supports interagency coordination efforts through the Subcommittee for 

Unmanned Systems (SUS), the Subcommittee for Disaster Reduction (SDR), and other elements 

of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Committee for Environment, natural 

resources sustainability (CENRS). 

NAS/NRC Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate

OFCM continues its mutually beneficial interactions with the National Research Council (NRC). 

The Federal Coordinator participates in the NRC Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate 

(BASC) strategic planning workshops and attends regularly scheduled BASC meetings.

NAS/NRC Space Science Board, Committee on Space and Solar Physics

The NSWP Executive Secretary provided program updates to the NRC Space Science Board 

(SSB) and its Committee on Space and Solar Physics (CSSP). The OFCM anticipates that the 

CSSP will continue to invite the NSWP members and the Executive Secretary to participate in its 

semiannual meetings. The OFCM and SSB are seeking ways to leverage each other’s strengths 

in bringing together the federal and nongovernmental space weather communities.

American Meteorological Society

OFCM supports AMS activities by participating in AMS conferences and workshops and serves 

on committees, groups, and teams as appropriate. In FY 2015, OFCM co-authored and/or 

presented two papers at the 95th AMS Annual Meeting and will present two papers at the 96th 

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Federal Coordination and Planning

Annual meeting in 2016. In addition, OFCM is co-sponsoring a forum in March 2016 with the 

AMS Nationwide Network of Networks Committee (see section on Committee for Observing 

Systems and Services above).

FY 2015 OFCM PUBLICATIONS

The publications listed in the table below were prepared in hard copy and/or were added to 

OFCM’s website (www.ofcm.gov) during FY 2015. 

OFCM PUBLICATION DATE NUMBER

PLANS (P)

Federal Plan for Meteorological Services and 

Supporting Research, Fiscal Year 2015

October 2014 FCM-P1-2014

National Hurricane Operations Plan

• 2015 Build 16.0 Dual Pol WSR-88D Tropical 

Cyclone Operations Plan (05/15/2015) 

◦"QUICK CHECK" List

• 2015 Build 15.0 Dual Pol WSR-88D Tropical 

Cyclone Operations Plan (05/15/2015) 

◦"QUICK CHECK" List 

May 2015 FCM-P12-2015

PROCEEDINGS

2015 Tropical Cyclone Research Forum/69th Interdepartmental 

Hurricane Conference Summary Report

March 2015

Proceedings of the Special Session, 19th Annual George Mason 

University (GMU) Atmospheric Transport and Dispersion Modeling 

Conference

June 2015

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

2-18
BASIC SERVICES

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

NOAA/National Weather Service

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service 

(NWS) provides climate, water, weather, ocean, aviation and space weather warnings and 

forecasts for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters, and ocean areas to help protect life 

and property and enhance the national economy. These services are provided through 122 

Weather Forecast Offices (WFO), 13 River Forecast Centers (RFC), the National Centers for 

Environmental Prediction (NCEP), and the National Water Center (NWC). These offices collect 

data, prepare local warnings and forecasts, and disseminate information to the public, both 

nationally and internationally, through NOAA Weather Radio (NWR), satellite-based 

telecommunication systems, radiofacsimile, the media, and the internet. NWS forecasters issue 

short-duration watches and warnings for severe weather, such as tornadoes and severe 

thunderstorms, as well as long-duration forecasts, watches, warnings and advisories for 

hazardous winter weather conditions, high wind events, dense fog, river levels, flooding and 

extreme temperatures.

The NWS uses surveillance technologies such as a national network of Doppler weather radars, 

satellites operated by NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service 

(NESDIS), aircraft observations, data buoys for marine observations and tsunami detection, 

surface weather observing systems at airports, and weather balloons to obtain vertical 

measurements of the atmosphere. Some observations are obtained through the Cooperative 

Observer Program (COOP), a nationwide network of volunteer-operated weather observing sites. 

Many other observations are contributed through arrangements with publicly and privately 

operated networks. Observations feed sophisticated environmental prediction models running on 

high performance supercomputers, which provide weather, water, climate, ocean, aviation and 

space weather forecast guidance that is available to users. The NWS’ highly trained and skilled 

workforce uses powerful workstations to analyze these data to issue forecasts and warnings 

around the clock. A high-speed communications hub allows for the efficient exchange of these 

data and products among NWS components, partners, and other users. NWS integrated 

dissemination infrastructure includes NWR and satellite broadcasts, while the internet rapidly 

distributes this information.

For purposes of this Federal Plan, Basic Services include the basic meteorological service system, to 

include observations, public weather forecasts, severe weather warnings and advisories, and the 

meteorological satellite activities of NOAA. Basic Services also include the operations and supporting 

research of other Federal agencies that have been identified as contributing to basic meteorological 

services.

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

The NWS creates forecasts in digital formats and makes them readily available. Forecasters use 

their expertise to maintain an up-to-date digital forecast database of weather elements. This 

information is stored in the National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD). Output from the NDFD 

is publicly available in the form of web graphics on the Internet and in several other digital 

formats. Outreach, education, and feedback are also critical elements in effective public response 

and improvements to NWS services.

RFCs routinely generate short range 

(deterministic) through extended range 

(probabilistic) river forecasts and 

(deterministic) flash flood guidance.

Information from the RFCs and NCEP’s 

Weather Prediction Center (WPC) serves as 

the basis for local flood and flash flood 

warnings, watches and advisories issued by 

the WFOs. Some RFCs, especially those in 

mountainous regions, also provide watersupply volume and peak-flow forecasts based 

on snow pack in high elevations. These water 

supply forecasts are used by a wide range of 

decision makers, including those in 

agriculture, hydroelectric dam operation and 

electricity generation, and water resources 

management. A new element of the NWS 

water resources program infrastructure, 

NWC, was completed in early 2014 on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, 

Alabama. The NWC will serve as a cornerstone for collaboration among Federal water agencies 

and provide a central hub to integrate and advance regional field operations and services. Initial 

Operating Capability was attained in May 2015. The NWC provides comprehensive snow 

observations, analyses, data sets and map products for the Nation. NWC products and services 

are used by RFCs and WFOs to develop a variety of hydrologic products such as spring flood 

outlooks, water supply outlooks, river and flood forecasts, and reservoir inflow forecasts. The 

capabilities of NWS Water Resources Services were recently expanded through the 

implementation of the Community Hydrologic Prediction System (CHPS) at the 13 NWS RFCs.

CHPS is the RFC operational framework, allowing for broad systems interoperability to support 

new water resources-related forecasts.

NCEP consists of nine national centers that provide a backbone of national expertise for both 

forecast and numerical guidance. The NCEP Storm Prediction Center (SPC) provides forecasts 

and watches for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes over the contiguous United States. The 

National Hurricane Center (NHC) provides forecasts of tropical weather systems and issues 

watches and warnings for the U.S. and surrounding areas for systems in the tropical North 

Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Eastern Pacific and provides educational outreach and 

guidance for the international community in the region. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center 

(Honolulu) and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (Guam) provide additional tropical cyclone 

coverage for the central and western Pacific, though not part of NCEP. The WPC provides 

analyses and forecast products with a focus on precipitation amount and type, winter 

Figure 1: The Advanced Weather Interactive Processing 

System (AWIPS) is a technologically advanced information 

processing, display, and telecommunications system. AWIPS 

is an interactive computer system that integrates all 

meteorological and hydrological data, and timely forecasts 

and warnings (NOAA Image)

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Basic Services

precipitation, model diagnostics, surface pressure, frontal analysis and forecast products for the 

medium range (days 3-7). The Ocean Prediction Center (OPC), along with NHC, issues marine 

forecasts for the Atlantic and Pacific oceans from the equator to the northern polar regions. The 

Aviation Weather Center (AWC) provides aviation warnings and forecasts of hazardous flight 

conditions at all levels within domestic and international air space. The Climate Prediction 

Center (CPC) provides assessments and forecasts of the impact of short-term climate variability, 

emphasizing enhanced risks of weather-related extreme events for use in mitigating losses and 

maximizing economic gain. The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) provides real-time 

monitoring and forecasting of solar and geophysical events which impact satellites, power grids, 

communications, navigation, and many other technological systems. The Environmental 

Modeling Center (EMC) develops and improves numerical weather, climate, hydrological and 

ocean prediction through applied research in data analysis, modeling and product development.

NCEP Central Operations (NCO) sustains and executes the operational suite of numerical 

environmental analysis and forecast models and prepares NCEP products for dissemination. 

They also process and manage the flow of data and products to and from the NCEP centers, 

partners, and customers. NCO also operates the NWS Telecommunications Operations Center, 

which provides for central, continuous acquisition, communications and dissemination of NWS 

and other domestic and foreign hydrometeorological data and products.

There are other specialized service centers within the NWS. The Pacific Tsunami Warning 

Center (PTWC) and the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) use data from a worldwide 

seismic network and Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) buoys located 

throughout the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Caribbean Sea to issue tsunami watches and 

warnings for all U.S. and many international coastal communities. The National Data Buoy 

Center (NDBC) is responsible for the deployment and maintenance of coastal and ocean buoys 

and sensors that are used for marine forecasts and analysis of ocean-based storms. The NWS 

Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) located in Anchorage, Alaska, provides worldwide 

warnings and advisories to aviation interests regarding airborne volcanic ash hazards (see further 

description of the global system of VAACs in the section on volcanic ash in Aviation Services.) 

The Radar Operations Center (ROC) provides centralized meteorological, software, 

maintenance, and engineering support for all Next-Generation Radar (NEXRAD systems for 

NWS, Department of Defense (DOD), and Department of Transportation (DOT). The National 

Reconditioning Center and National Logistics Support Center (NRC/NLSC) is the hub that 

provides mission critical components through which NWS equipment and DOT and DOD 

equipment pass for repair, quality inspection, warehousing, and distribution

NWS support several health-related programs such as Heat Health, the Ultraviolet Index and Air 

Quality. Heat Health Watch Warning Systems (HHWWS) have been developed for select cities 

to provide advance notice of excessive heat events that produce the greatest number of weatherrelated deaths. 

NWS’ suite of products and services enable core partners’ decisions when weather, water, or 

climate has a direct impact on the protection of lives and livelihoods. As NWS works to fulfill 

the vision of a Weather-Ready Nation (WRN) its diverse portfolio of service capabilities will 

become more focused on a framework approach that will enable the agency to provide the 

foundational information and Impact-Based Decision Support Services (IDSS) needed. It is at 

this juncture where NWS’ highly skilled workforce provides significant value to achieve its 

mission. IDSS is a foundational concept of NWS’ WRN. Rather than developing and 

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

transmitting a suite of products at fixed times during the day and expecting stakeholders to fully 

understand and take appropriate action; IDSS changes the paradigm so information users drive 

the update frequency and value-added meaning of the product. IDSS also provides greater 

flexibility for forecasters to work with key governmental partners and even embed within their 

emergency operations centers to give first hand support to enhance decision making and public 

safety.

In 2015, NOAA completed a restructure of the NWS budget to simplify and align with functions. 

This restructure has restored budget credibility and transparency by strengthening internal 

controls and customer service while improving coordination and collaboration among activities 

that serve NWS’ overall mission. Guided by the recent National Academy of Sciences, 

“Becoming Second to None,” and the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), 

“Forecast for the Future: Assuring the Capacity of the NWS” reports, NWS implemented the 

new portfolio-based budget structure and reorganized headquarters in order to better support 

mission operations; improve prioritization and management of resources; and improve 

consistency of NWS products and services.

NOAA/National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service

NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) operates 

the Nation’s civil operational environmental satellite system, making continuous observations of 

Earth and its oceans and atmosphere. Satellite observations are collected, processed, and used to 

develop weather, climate, ocean, and other environmental products, services, and long-term data 

records that benefit the American public.

Currently, NOAA’s main satellite constellations are the Geostationary Operational 

Environmental Satellites (GOES) and Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites 

(POES). These two systems provide the U.S. component of a joint environmental monitoring 

system in partnership with the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological 

Satellites (EUMETSAT). NOAA also operates the Suomi National Polar Partnership (S-NPP) 

satellite, a NOAA-NASA mission which is the precursor to the future NOAA Joint Polar 

Satellite System (JPSS). S-NPP became NOAA’s primary afternoon orbit satellite on May 1, 

2014. On behalf of the Department of Defense (DoD), NESDIS also operates the Defense 

Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) spacecraft, part of the military’s sixth generation of 

weather satellites. NOAA also operates Jason-2, a joint U.S.-European specialized polar-orbiting 

satellite that measures ocean surface topography. In addition, on behalf of the Department of 

Commerce (DOC), NESDIS licenses the operation of commercial remote-sensing land-imaging 

satellites. NESDIS also provides long-term stewardship of environmental data, managing the 

world’s largest collection of climatic, geophysical, and oceanographic data derived from both in 

situ and space-based systems.

Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites (POES)

POES circle Earth in a nearly north-south orbit at an altitude of 517 miles, passing close to both 

poles. These satellites ensure observational data for any region of Earth are no more than six 

hours old. Data from POES support global weather forecasting models, long-term global climate 

change research, and hazard detection and mitigation. In addition to S-NPP, NESDIS operates 

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Basic Services

NOAA-15, NOAA-18, and NOAA-19, which continue to transmit data as back-up and 

secondary satellites. NESDIS also manages the command, control, and communications 

functions of DoD’s DMSP. MetOp-B, operated by EUMETSAT and launched in 2012, provides 

operational environmental monitoring in the mid-morning orbit. MetOp-A provides secondary 

coverage. The MetOp satellites carry three instruments provided by NOAA. 

In addition, NOAA operates Jason-2. This spacecraft’s mission is to provide physical data of the 

ocean surface, including ocean surface altimetry, sea wave height, sea wave period, surface 

roughness, and other measurements. This mission, also called the Ocean Surface Topography 

Mission, is a follow-on to the successful Jason-1 mission developed by the French space 

agency—Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES)—and the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration (NASA).

Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS)

JPSS is the next generation of U.S. civil polar-orbiting satellites, with the first launch scheduled 

for FY 2017, following S-NPP as the bridge mission between POES and JPSS. 

Because weather forecasters rely on data from NOAA’s current on-orbit assets, JPSS platforms 

focus on ensuring short- and long-term continuity in crucial weather forecasting, environmental 

monitoring, and climate monitoring data. S-NPP was successfully launched from Vandenberg 

Air Force Base, California, on October 28, 2011. In addition to serving as a prototype for the 

next-generation of NOAA’s polar-orbiting satellites, S-NPP provides continuity for NASA’s 

Earth Observing System mission. In 2013, operation was transferred to NOAA’s Office of 

Satellite Product Operations (OSPO), and in 2014 it was declared NOAA’s primary operational 

polar-orbiting spacecraft for NOAA’s operational weather forecasting mission. JPSS-1 is 

scheduled to be launched no later than the second quarter of FY 2017; JPSS continues to enhance 

the ground segment of the program to support S-NPP operations as well as to prepare for JPSS-1. 

NOAA-NESDIS maintains a strong partnership with EUMETSAT, which will continue to be a 

cornerstone of a joint polar-orbiting constellation and will ensure NOAA-NESDIS’ ability to 

provide continuous measurements. In FY 2015, JPSS expects to have the JPSS-2 instruments on 

contract and the JPSS-2 spacecraft contract awarded. JPSS-2 is planned for launch in FY 2021.

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES)

GOES spacecraft orbit Earth in a geostationary position at an altitude of 22,300 miles, which 

means they orbit the equatorial plane of Earth at a speed matching Earth’s rotation. The GOES 

system provides continuous observations of environmental conditions of North, Central, and 

South America and the surrounding oceans. These spacecraft provide data critical for fast, 

accurate weather forecasts and warnings, detection of solar storm activity, and relay of distress 

signals from emergency beacons. They provide nearly continuous monitoring necessary for 

effective, detailed, and extensive weather forecasting, prediction, and environmental monitoring.

There are two operational geostationary satellites for the North American region, GOES-East at 

75°W and GOES-West, at 135°W, plus an on-orbit spare satellite at 105°W. Each operational 

satellite continuously views nearly one-third of Earth’s surface. GOES-P was launched on March 

4, 2010, and was renamed GOES-15 once it was successfully on orbit. GOES-15 is the third and 

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

last in the current series of NOAA geostationary satellites. The current constellation consists of 

GOES-15 (West), GOES-13 (East), and GOES-14 (on-orbit spare).

GOES Series R

Geostationary satellites remain the 

weather sentinels for NOAA—tracking 

hurricanes, severe storms, clouds, and 

ocean features. The next-generation 

geostationary satellite series is called the 

Geostationary Operational Environment 

Satellite – R (GOES-R) series. The 

advanced spacecraft and instrument 

technology used on the GOES-R series 

will result in more timely and accurate 

weather forecasts. It will improve support

for the detection and observations of 

meteorological phenomena and directly 

benefit public safety, protection of 

property, and, ultimately, economic health 

and development. The GOES-R Advanced 

Baseline Imager (ABI) will scan its field 

of view on Earth nearly five times faster, 

with more than three times the spectral 

coverage and four times the spatial 

resolution of the current GOES imager. 

The GOES-R series will provide users like 

meteorologists and government agencies with approximately 60 times the amount of data 

currently provided. The Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM), in geostationary orbit for the 

first time, will be capable of measuring total lightning activity continuously day and night with a 

horizontal resolution on the order of 10 km and detection efficiency ranging between 70 and 

90%.

To ensure user readiness, forecasters and other users must have access to prototype advanced 

products within their operational environment well before launch. The GOES-R Proving Ground 

(http://www.goes-r.gov/users/proving-ground.html) engages the National Weather Service 

(NWS) forecast, watch, and warning community and other agency users in pre-operational 

demonstrations of the new and advanced capabilities that will be available from the GOES-R 

series. Examples of the advanced products include improvements on: volcanic ash detection, 

lightning detection, dust and aerosol detection, synthetic cloud and moisture imagery, as well as 

one-minute interval rapid scan imagery. A key component of the GOES-R Proving Ground is the 

two-way interaction between the researchers who introduce new products and techniques and the 

forecasters who then provide feedback and ideas for improvements that can best be incorporated 

into NOAA’s integrated observing and analysis operations.

The GOES-R series is a collaborative development and acquisition effort between NOAA and 

NASA. In FY 2016, the GOES-R Series Program is planning for the completion of the GOES-R 

Figure 2: Geostationary Operational Environment Satellite–R 

Series (GOES-R). Image courtesy GOES-R Series Program and 

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company

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Basic Services

spacecraft, ground system, flight-to-ground testing, and launch service activities to meet a launch 

readiness date in March 2016. Additional FY 2016 activities include delivery of the GOES-S 

suite of instruments, completion of the fabrication of the GOES-S spacecraft hardware, and 

continued development of the instruments for GOES-T.

NOAA/NESDIS Data Centers

National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI, www.ncei.noaa.gov) is the official 

source for historical and near-real-time data and information covering weather, climate, coasts, 

oceans, geophysics, and space weather. 

Access to reliable and accurate long-term records of environmental data and information is 

critical to satisfying the Nation’s wide range of business, education, and government needs 

related to national security, the economy, the environment, and public safety. This includes 

policies and decisions that have an impact on water and energy management, manufacturing, 

transportation, food production, public health, and many other socio-economic issues that depend 

on quality data records and information. 

The NCEI headquarters are in Asheville, NC, with major presences also in Boulder, CO, Silver 

Spring, MD, and Stennis Space Center, MS. NCEI is divided into two science centers and a data 

stewardship division, which provides data preservation and access services.

• NCEI ensures the scientific integrity and usefulness of NCEI products and services through 

data synthesis, including description, monitoring, modeling, and assessment, data and 

information preservation, and dissemination.

• NCEI ensures the scientific integrity and usefulness of NCEI products and services through 

data synthesis, including description, monitoring, modeling, and assessment, data and 

information preservation, and dissemination. 

• NCEI performs quality assurance and reanalysis of historical data, including long-term 

satellite data records, to establish and update baseline data sets for global and national 

standards and environmental monitoring using current information technologies.

• NCEI’s authoritative data and information enables today’s events to be put in historical 

perspective and allows national decision-makers to make confident, data- and informationdriven determinations about trends and extremes, such as how unusual or extreme a drought, 

snowstorm, or other environmental event is, providing for more appropriate and costeffective emergency appropriations. 

• NCEI products include decadal, annual, monthly, weekly, and daily U.S. and global weather 

summaries and climate reports, assessments of billion-dollar disasters, the World Ocean 

Atlas, and the World Magnetic Model. 

• NCEI works with many partners across the Nation, including other NOAA Line Offices and 

Cooperative Institutes (CIs), federal agencies, and national and international contributors and 

users of NCEI data, including industry, academia, and government.

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

Center for Weather and Climate (also see Climate Services)

Previously NOAA's National Climatic Data Center, this center is responsible for preserving, 

monitoring, and assessing the Nation's treasure of climate and historical weather data and 

information.

Center for Coasts, Oceans, and Geophysics (also see Climate Services)

Previously NOAA's National Coastal Data Development Center, National Oceanographic Data 

Center, and National Geophysical Data Center, this center is responsible for preserving, 

monitoring, and assessing the Nation's treasure of coastal, geophysical, and oceanographic data 

and information.

The Center for Coasts, Oceans, and Geophysics (CCOG) is the trusted authority that advances 

and enables environmental science and related decision-making from resilient coastal 

communities to space weather. With oceanographic, geophysical, and solar observations that 

stretch from the surface of the sun to the depths of the oceans, CCOG derives products, develops 

assessments, and delivers information services in support of customer requirements. CCOG’s 

capabilities support essential services to foster sustainable economic development and support 

coastal communities to prepare for and respond to emergencies. CCOG conducts integrated 

scientific analyses of coastal and marine environmental data sets to better understand historical 

trends, anomalies, and the frequency of occurrences of events in large marine ecosystems over a 

decadal or longer temporal scale. In support of the National Snow and Ice Data Center, CCOG 

delivers sea ice extent and concentration products supporting NOAA and Navy operational ice 

forecasts in the Arctic as well as climatological sea ice trends. These long-term environmental 

and marine climatology data records provide NOAA, national and international data centers, 

researchers, and coastal zone managers information to understand an ecosystem’s historical 

record and to better enable the decision-making process, to establish status and trends, and to 

forecast future impacts on the ecosystem. CCOG is a leader in integrating physical, biological, 

chemical, and living coastal and marine resource data based on the user requirements for this 

purpose. In addition, CCOG promotes the scientific integrity and usefulness of its products and 

services through interactions with data providers, users, and the public. 

• NCEI’s Coastal Data Development (CDD) program, based in Stennis, MS, conducts 

integrated scientific analysis of coastal and marine environmental data sets to better 

understand historical trends, anomalies, and the frequency of occurrences of events in large 

marine ecosystems. CDD focuses on the development of products and services that bring 

together scientists and coastal managers in support of coastal ecological and observational 

data and information.

Data Stewardship Division 

The Data Stewardship Division (DSD) of NCEI provides data preservation and access services 

that enable the NCEI centers, other government agencies, and the public to exploit NOAA’s 

multi-billion dollar investment in environmental observations. DSD maintains the nation’s 

archive of environmental information, as well as international data holdings through the World 

Data System. It maximizes availability of archived information by leveraging data portals such 

as data.gov and the World Meteorological Organization Information System. DSD leads and 

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participates in developing and implementing standard practices in data and information 

management that facilitate data services and interoperability. DSD’s archive and access 

capabilities make use of a cost-effective suite of systems including CLASS, the Comprehensive 

Large Array-data Stewardship System, which supports satellite operations.

To guarantee the integrity and utility of NCEI’s physical and digital holdings, DSD performs 

essential data management functions including:

• Acquisition of real-time and historical data sets from national and international sources;

• Automated data ingest, including quality assurance, quality control, and data validation;

• Data rescue from limited access sources or deteriorating media;

• Secure preservation, including redundant offsite storage and media migration;

• Interoperable data sharing through use of national and international standards for metadata, 

data formats, and web services; 

• Data documentation and metadata cataloging;

• Information processing, product generation and data reprocessing; and

• Data publication and dissemination.

NOAA Central and Regional Libraries

The NOAA Central Library, under the auspices of NCEI, is located in Silver Spring, MD, with 

satellite libraries in Miami, FL, and Seattle, WA. The library provides information and research 

support to NOAA staff and the public. The library also networks with over 30 NOAA libraries 

across the nation. Disciplines covered in the library’s holdings include weather and atmospheric 

sciences, oceanography, ocean engineering, nautical charting, marine ecology, marine resources, 

ecosystems, coastal studies, aeronomy, geodesy, cartography, mathematics, and statistics. See

www.lib.noaa.gov for more information.

NOAA/Office of Marine and Aviation Operations

The NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) operates a fleet of survey ships 

and aircraft to support NOAA’s mission goals. NOAA’s ship fleet includes oceanographic and 

atmospheric research vessels. The NOAA aircraft fleet includes aircraft that collect 

environmental and geographic data essential to NOAA hurricane and other severe weather and 

atmospheric research and aircraft that conduct aerial surveys to forecast water supply and 

flooding potential from snow melt. 

NOAA vessels make weather and ocean observations in the marine environment. Over 50,000 

automated observations are submitted per year through the World Meteorological Organization’s 

(WMO) Voluntary Observing Ships scheme. NOAA vessels also support NOAA’s NDBC in 

recovery of buoys that have been disabled or gone adrift.

NOAA supports a broad range of meteorological activities and projects with its fleet of aircraft, 

based at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. Three of its nine aircraft are dedicated to 

this purpose throughout the year, providing valuable information to NOAA and the Nation. The 

NOAA Gulfstream, G-IV (SP) (N49RF), provides scientists with a platform for the investigation 

of processes in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. With an operating ceiling of 45,000 

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ft, the G-IV is a critical tool for obtaining the data necessary to improve hurricane track forecasts 

and for research leading to improvements in hurricane intensity forecasts. 

The NOAA G-IV annually supports hurricane synoptic surveillance missions; the aircraft flies in 

the environment surrounding the storm at a high altitude, releasing Global Positioning System 

(GPS)–equipped dropsondes at preselected locations. The data from these vertical atmospheric 

soundings are received, processed, and transmitted from the aircraft to a NOAA NCEP computer 

site, where they are incorporated into computer models of hurricanes to improve hurricane track 

forecasts. Each dropsonde directly measure temperature, pressure, and humidity at the rate of 

two samples per second as it falls through the atmosphere to the surface and computes wind 

speed and wind direction at a rate of four samples per second, using a full-up GPS receiver. 

Recent estimates of the improvement in hurricane track predictions utilizing this technology 

show an improvement of between 20 and 30 percent, which represents a savings of $10 million 

or more per hurricane in warning and preparedness costs. 

Two NOAA WP-3D Lockheed Orion aircraft (N42RF and N43RF) support NOAA's 

atmospheric and oceanographic research, as well as its tropical storm and hurricane 

reconnaissance operations. The aircraft’s research and navigation systems provide detailed 

spatial and temporal observations of a wide range of atmospheric and oceanic parameters. 

NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center (AOC) develops and calibrates specialized instruments, 

installs and integrates user-supplied instrumentation into the aircraft and data network, and 

processes data for immediate satellite transmission or future analysis. The NOAA WP-3D 

aircraft, while executing the complex flight patterns required for hurricane research, also provide 

storm data to the NHC in real time, transmitting flight level data and GPS dropsonde messages, 

as well as radar images transmitted via their multiple aircraft-satellite data links. The stepped 

frequency microwave radiometers (SFMR) on the NOAA WP-3D are used to map the surface 

wind fields in and around hurricanes and tropical storms. Real-time surface wind speed maps are 

critical to providing more accurate forecasts of the extent of hurricane and tropical storm force 

winds. 

During each hurricane season, the two NOAA WP-3Ds support several major research 

experiments in support of NOAA’s Hurricane Research Division (HRD) of NOAA’s Atlantic 

Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories in its Intensity Forecast Experiment (IFEX), an 

ongoing program studying hurricane genesis, rapid intensification, and other related experiments. 

A promising part of this research effort is the collaboration with NOAA’s EMC in a program to 

obtain three-dimensional horizontal wind fields in developing tropical systems and hurricanes, 

utilizing the Tail Doppler Radars of the WP-3D aircraft. The objective of this effort is to obtain 

data that can be assimilated into the Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) 

model for the purpose of improving hurricane intensity forecasts. Extensive descriptions of the 

various hurricane research experiments may be found in the HRD Field Program Plan for 2012. 

The NOAA WP-3D aircraft annually participate in both summer and winter operations 

supporting the NESDIS satellite validation program. Operating in regions of high winds and 

heavy precipitation, one of the WP-3Ds, equipped with microwave scatterometers and 

radiometers, provides under-flight validation of the ocean surface wind vectors sensed by the 

European ASCAT and Indian OceanWind2 satellites. Traditional venues for these satellite 

validation operations are Alaska or Newfoundland in the winter and the Atlantic and Caribbean 

regions during the summer hurricane season.

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These versatile aircraft also support international and interagency projects. Prior to the start of 

the 2014 Hurricane season, NOAA Aircraft Operations Center, working with the Mexican Navy, 

Air Force, CONAGUA, the National Hurricane Center (NHC), and the U.S. Embassy, 

established an agreement that would allow NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft to base out of 

Mexican Navy and Air Force facilities for hurricane reconnaissance tasking for eastern Pacific 

storms. In October, 2014, N43RF successfully completed a detachment to La Paz, Mexico, in 

support of NHC tasked missions on Hurricane Simon. This relationship allows NHC to further 

investigate these storms and provide watches and warnings for eastern Pacific hurricanes.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Basic Meteorological 

Services

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is a long-term partner with the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for building and launching the U.S. 

Polar Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) and Geostationary Operational Environmental 

Satellite (GOES), civilian weather satellites, under reimbursable arrangements. Additionally, 

after the termination of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System 

(NPOESS) Program, NASA took on the role of the acquisition agency for the NOAA-funded 

Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) Program. Several missions, including the Ocean Surface 

Topography Mission (OSTM) and Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP), are 

NASA research missions that were developed in partnership with NOAA and are now being 

operated by NOAA as part of the operational weather system. Jason 3, which is under 

development by NOAA, is a follow-on to the TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1, OSTM series. In the 

President’s FY 2015 budget request, NASA assumed responsibility for the sustained climate 

measurements such as total solar irradiance, vertical ozone profiles and Earth’s radiation budget 

in the JPSS-2 (2021) timeframe. Additionally, the President’s FY 2016 budget request transfers 

responsibility from NOAA to NASA for the completion and launch of the TSIS-1 instrument to 

the ISS, as well as the development and operation of the next mission in the ocean altimetry 

series, Jason CS.

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

Interagency Collaborative Research Programs and Projects

The National Earth System Prediction Capability 

The National Earth System Prediction Capability (ESPC) is an ongoing collaborative project 

among the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Navy, U.S. Air 

Force, Dept. of Energy (DOE), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the 

National Science Foundation (NSF). 

The National ESPC program will provide a more accurate global ocean and atmospheric forecast 

system with longer skillful forecast times at synoptic, sub-seasonal, seasonal, and inter-annual 

scales through integrating and coupling global atmosphere, ocean, ice, land and near-space 

forecast models into an operational suite of prediction systems that reduce errors relative to 

current modeling approaches. Additionally, it will continue to develop a national common 

modeling architecture to improve cross-agency collaboration, emphasizing more efficient 

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computational architectures to allow real-time high-resolution operational prediction at these 

extended time scales. In FY 2016, predictability demonstration plans will be refined, and science 

workshops and early benchmark testing will be conducted. The immediate program goal is to 

advance skillful forecasts (relative to climatology) from the operational capability, currently 7-10 

days, to 30 days and subseasonal. Follow-on program goals include coordinated interagency 

predictions and projections at the subdecadal and decadal time scales. Additional information 

can be found at: www.espc.oar.noaa.gov.

Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation

The Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA) is a USA partnership between NOAA, 

NASA, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Air Force dedicated to developing and improving our ability 

to exploit satellite data more effectively in environmental analyses and forecast models. The 

JCSDA is a collaborative effort that allows the 

development and testing of techniques required to 

assimilate the billions of satellite observations 

available daily to be shared by several agencies. 

This effort would otherwise be duplicated across the 

agencies.

The JCSDA has the following goals: (1) Reduce the 

average time for operational implementation of data 

from new satellite sensors to less than one year, (2) 

Increase the use and impact of current satellite data 

in numerical weather prediction models, (3) 

Advance common data assimilation infrastructure 

and methods, and (4) Assess the impacts of data 

from advanced satellite sensors on environmental 

predictions. By meeting these goals, the JCSDA 

achieves its objective of maximizing the nation’s 

return on its investment in global observing systems 

and modeling, and providing improvements to the 

U.S. forecasting system (civilian and military), which in turn contributes to protecting citizens 

lives and property and the nation’s global interests. Priorities for the JCSDA in FY16 include 

successful exploitation of new research (GPM, SMAP, Rapidscat, CYGNSS, etc.) and 

operational (GOES-R and JPSS) satellites, improving the use of cloud-affected satellite data and 

Atmospheric Wind Vector observations, and expanding a standing observation system impact 

assessment capability.

Wind Forecast Improvement Projects (WFIP 1 and WFIP 2)

WFIP 1 was a success for developing public-private partnerships towards a common end goal –

resolving a scientific challenge. For WFIP 1, wind energy companies shared meteorological 

observations collected on tall towers and wind turbines on wind farms with NOAA, who used the 

data for model verification and validation, as well as assimilation into its advanced, rapidly 

refreshed weather models. NOAA and DOE have encouraged renewable energy companies to 

sign data sharing agreements under which NOAA will maintain the proprietary nature of such 

Figure 3: The 300-MW Stateline Wind Energy 

Center located on VanSycle Ridge between the 

states of Washington and Oregon in the WFIP 2 

study domain. Photo Courtesy of Pacific Northwest 

National Lab.

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data, while using them for research and operational weather forecasts to reduce risk for the wind 

industry. 

DOE and NOAA will build on these efforts through a new effort, the Wind Forecasting 

Improvement Project in Complex Terrain (WFIP 2), which will develop further improvements to 

foundational atmospheric model physics in predicting wind ramp and day-ahead events for areas 

of complex terrain. WFIP 2 is a multi-year DOE and NOAA sponsored project done in 

conjunction with four DOE National Laboratories and FOA awardee Vaisala, Inc. WFIP 2 will 

focus on improving the physical understanding of atmospheric processes in complex terrain 

impacting wind industry forecasts and incorporating the new understanding into the foundational 

weather forecasting models. The integrated WFIP 2 team will conduct a large scale field 

campaign to gather data from all four seasons in the Columbia River Basin of Washington and 

Oregon to assess how physical processes alter wind speeds at hub heights. 

Following the field campaign, the team will work to develop physical modeling schemes or 

atmospheric theories that better represent physical processes and increase the accuracy of 0 to 15 

hour wind energy forecasts with positive implications to the day ahead forecast while focusing 

on the wind plant inflow. NOAA’s 13-km Rapid Refresh (RAP), 3-km High Resolution Rapid 

Refresh (HRRR), and 750-m HRRR nest use the open-source WRF model at the core and will be 

the focus of improvements to model physics at the mesoscale and smaller scales. Improved 

bridging of models across multiple scales is a focus of WFIP 2. Forecast uncertainties will be 

quantified using both data and ensemble techniques. Decision support tools will be developed 

that incorporate these uncertainties to better communicate forecast reliability to system operators 

and other users.

WFIP 2 follows the recently completed WFIP 1 as a second large-scale project in a growing 

number of joint agency efforts under a Memorandum of Understanding on “Weather-dependent 

and Oceanic Renewable Energy Resources” signed by NOAA and DOE in January 2011. The 

agreement set up a framework for NOAA and DOE to work together on renewable energy 

modeling and forecasting.

NOAA/National Weather Service/Environmental Modeling Center

Continually improving the accuracy, timeliness, and accessibility to prediction services is a result 

of research and development (R&D) within the NWS, at other NOAA offices such as OAR, and 

externally from universities and private corporations. As one of the nine NCEP Centers, EMC 

uses advanced modeling methods developed both internally and cooperatively with universities, 

the international scientific community, NESDIS, OAR, and other government agencies. EMC is 

a partner in the JCSDA, which is designed to accelerate the use of research and operational 

satellite data in NCEP operational models. The EMC conducts applied research and technology 

transfers and publishes results in various media for dissemination to the world meteorological, 

oceanographic, and climate communities. EMC also participates in ongoing interactive research 

programs such as NOAA’s Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project (HFIP) and the WRF 

community model. Furthermore, EMC efforts in collaborative development resulted in 

improvements to mesoscale and global models, as well as advances in hurricane track forecasts, 

climate forecasts, and air quality forecasts.

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NOAA/Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project (HFIP)

HFIP contributes significantly to NOAA's forecast services through improved hurricane forecast 

science and technology. HFIP provides the unifying organizational infrastructure and funding for 

NOAA and other agencies to coordinate the hurricane research needed to significantly improve 

guidance for hurricane track, intensity, and storm surge forecasts and accelerate the transition 

from research to operations. HFIP is in the fifth year of its mission to reduce track and intensity 

errors, increase the probability of detection and decrease the false alarm ratio for rapid 

intensification and extend the lead-time for hurricane forecasts out to seven days. HFIP 

approaches meeting those goals by improving existing numerical forecast systems through a 

regimen of revising, testing, refining and implementing promising technologies. HFIP developed 

a high-performance computing system housed at the NOAA Skaggs Building in Boulder, 

Colorado to support the significant computational demands of such an approach. With the 

computational infrastructure, HFIP focuses multi-organizational activities to research, develop, 

demonstrate and implement enhanced operational modeling capabilities, dramatically improving 

the numerical forecast guidance made available to National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Participants include Federal laboratories and academic partners. Prior to each hurricane season, 

NHC reviews and selects a set of enhanced experimental guidance products they will evaluate 

operationally during the season. HFIP runs an experimental forecast exercise on the highperformance computing system in Boulder to provide the selected products to NHC forecasters.

HFIP’s structured approach accelerates bringing promising technologies and techniques from the 

research community into operations. In particular, HFIP has successfully

• aligned focused research efforts within NOAA and with NOAA’s interagency and academic 

partners;

• established a process to leverage outside research capabilities in support of project objectives 

(Federally funded grantees working within a community code repository);

• defined and implemented a solution (the seasonal, real-time experimental forecast system) to 

accelerate research into operational products; and

• established a high performance computing infrastructure and attendant protocols to support 

research-to-operations activities.

NOAA/National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service

Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR)

As the primary science arm of NESDIS, STAR provides leadership for NESDIS research, 

development, validation, and maintenance of satellite-derived products and applications from 

NOAA’s operational geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites and from many non-NOAA 

research and international satellites. STAR develops new environmental applications, techniques, 

and algorithms for transforming raw satellite observations into scientifically meaningful,

quality–assured, and calibrated environmental measurements and products. STAR also develops 

the pre-operational computer codes to implement these products. STAR supports the calibration 

and validation of all satellite sensors used in NOAA’s satellite operations and develops methods 

and maintains systems for inter-calibrating NOAA satellite data with other satellites in the 

international constellation of research and operational satellites. STAR collaborates with other 

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NESDIS and NOAA offices, universities, NASA and other U.S. agencies, and international 

organizations on exchange and evaluation of operational and research satellite data and products.

The Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA)—collocated with STAR and the NWS 

Environmental Modeling Center (EMC) at the NOAA Center for Weather and Climate 

Prediction (NCWCP)—is a joint distributed center sponsored by NOAA, NASA, and 

Departments of the Navy and Air Force. In addition to STAR, the NOAA partners include the 

Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Atlantic Oceanographic and 

Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) and the National Weather Service’s National Centers for 

Environmental Prediction (NCEP). The JCSDA was established in 2001 to accelerate and 

improve the quantitative use of research and operational satellite data in weather, ocean, climate, 

and environmental analysis and prediction systems. JCSDA research and development directly 

supports NOAA and DoD in their operational environmental prediction responsibilities. 

NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)

The OAR Research Laboratories and Programs conduct an integrated program of research, 

technology development, and services to improve the understanding of the Earth’s atmosphere 

and to describe and predict changes occurring to it. OAR programs, laboratories and their field 

stations are located across the country. Scientists study, monitor and model atmospheric, oceanic 

and other processes that affect weather, air quality, water resources, and climate. By researching

Earth’s atmospheric system, OAR improves the understanding of weather and intense events 

such as hurricanes, tornadoes, winter storms, extreme precipitation, and severe thunderstorms in 

addition to seasonal droughts, and the effects of the changing climate on these events. OAR 

integrates these findings into environmental information products for weather support for 

forecast operations, disaster preparedness, emergency response and management, transportation 

safety and efficiency, renewable energy production, and other sectors of the economy affected by 

weather. These products improve critical weather and climate tools used by the private sector, 

government agencies, decision-makers, and the public.

OAR Laboratories and Programs 

Air Resources Laboratory (ARL)

ARL supports basic meteorological products and services through research and development in 

atmospheric dispersion, air quality, and boundary layer science. Primary research activities and 

programs are 1) using the ARL-developed Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated 

Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model to track the transport, dispersion and fate of harmful chemicals and 

materials; 2) providing the Real-time Environmental Applications and Display sYstem 

(READY) that allows users to access and display meteorological data and run trajectory and 

dispersion model products on ARL's web server; 3) improving air quality forecasting models to 

address health issues associated with ground-level ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter 

(PM2.5) for NOAA and other researchers; and 4) designing, developing, and deploying 

meteorological and turbulence instrumentation for use on land and in the air.

In FY16, ARL will:

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• Continue to apply the HYSPLIT model to track and forecast, as needed, the release of 

radioactive material, volcanic ash, dust, and wildfire smoke, and other hazardous materials. 

ARL will continue to provide HYSPLIT-Mercury assessments for the Great Lakes 

Restoration Initiative. 

• Deliver to NWS a forecasting system tailored for global chemical transport model coupling 

capable of tracking smoke and dust plumes originating from outside the continental US.

• Explore the use of a small Unmanned Arial System as a contribution to the NOAA 

VORTEX-Southeast field campaign in Alabama to help understand the formation, intensity, 

structure and path characteristics of tornadoes.

• Continue work with NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration to make needed 

improvements to the integrated HYSPLIT-CAMEO/Aloha modeling system for short- and 

long-range atmospheric transport applications.

• Continue the development of a five- year re-analysis dataset, generated using the Community 

Multi-scale Air Quality model, to address O3 and PM2.5 for the benefit of the air quality and 

climate research communities. Generate a new forecast product using data from the Joint 

Polar Satellite System to link ocean isoprene emissions to changes in ozone and aerosols that 

affect air quality and climate.

• Prepare and deploy the Best Aircraft Turbulence probe as part of the Fluxes of Carbon from 

an Airborne Laboratory (FOCAL) system) for a study over the permafrost regions of Alaska.

Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML)

AOML conducts mission oriented scientific research that seeks to understand the physical, 

chemical, and biological characteristics and processes of the ocean and atmosphere, both 

separately and as a coupled system. The Laboratory's research themes (oceans and climate, 

http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/research/ocean_climate.html; coastal ecosystems, 

http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/research/coastal_ecosystems.html; and hurricanes and tropical 

meteorology, http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/research/hurricanes.html) employ a cross-disciplinary 

approach, conducted through collaborative interactions with national and international research 

and environmental forecasting institutions. The work also provides reliable information based on 

oceanic and atmospheric measurements and analysis. 

AOML scientists study atmospheric and oceanic processes that affect tropical cyclones, 

tornadoes, rainfall (drought), and climate impacts on weather. In addition to research, AOML 

serves as the operational data center for several programs that directly improve weather services 

through providing in situ observations from Argo profiling floats, surface drifters and the Pirata 

Northeast Extension. Research includes improved understanding and application development 

surrounding physical processes like the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomena, North 

Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), tropical Atlantic variability, the Meridional Overturning Cell, winddriven gyres in the Atlantic, the global carbon cycle, and other climatically-relevant atmospheric 

compounds. Of particular note includes AOML research into tropical Cyclones and ocean 

observing technologies.

Ocean Observing Technologies

In addition to the many weather-related observing systems, AOML is dedicated to improving the 

development, deployment, and monitoring of oceanographic-related observing technologies and 

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related data in support of meteorology forecasts. As part of this effort, AOML collaborates with 

the National Weather Service to gather and transmit in real-time marine weather observations 

from ship-based observations. The AMVER SEAS 2K is a real-time ship and environmental data 

acquisition and transmission system (developed and support by AOML), reports atmospheric and 

oceanographic data from Ship of Opportunity Program. AOML also manages, in partnership 

with the Climate Program Office, the Global Drifter Program, the Argo profiling float data 

assembly center, and the XBT data assembly center that provide real-time oceanic observations 

to help improve weather forecast models.

Tropical Cyclone Research

To improve tropical cyclone track and intensity forecast guidance, AOML’s Hurricane Research 

Division (HRD) uses in situ and remotely sensed data collected by aircraft, satellites, and buoys 

and computer model simulations of the inner core of tropical cyclones and their surrounding 

environment. An aircraft field program is used to gather datasets representing all stages of the 

storm’s lifecycle; these datasets are used to both support operational needs and provide the 

cornerstone of HRD’s research to advance the understanding and prediction of tropical cyclones. 

The observations are primarily collected during the hurricane season using two NOAA turboprop 

aircraft and a Gulfstream-IV jet operated by NOAA’s AOC. 

HRD’s major objectives are the assimilation and evaluation of the new G-IV tail Doppler radar 

observations to improve forecast guidance, evaluation of the Global Hawk unmanned aircraft 

systems (UAS) observations to improve forecast guidance in collaboration with the NASA 

Hurricane Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) program, and collecting observations specifically to 

evaluate the atmospheric and oceanic boundary layer physical parameterizations used in 

NOAA’s operational Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) model. As part of 

the OAR Sandy Supplemental supported research activities, HRD will evaluate and assess the 

benefits of using new and emerging observing technologies consisting of aircraft-deployed low 

altitude UAS and Doppler wind lidar (DWL) profiling systems to improve forecast guidance 

through evaluation of and improvements to the physical parameterization routines used in 

HWRF.

HRD is also the principal OAR component of NOAA’s Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project 

(HFIP). Begun in 2009, the HFIP is a unified 10-year NOAA plan to improve the 1-day to 5-day 

forecasts for tropical cyclone activity, with a focus on rapid intensity change. Researchers at 

HRD, together with 2-3 researchers at OAR’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), 

5-6 researchers at ESRL, and 5-6 researchers at NCEP/EMC make up the NOAA core capability 

for hurricane R&D and play a major role in the HFIP. The objectives of the HFIP are to 

coordinate hurricane-related R&D within the NOAA entities mentioned above and to broaden 

their interactions with the outside research community in order to address NOAA’s operational 

hurricane forecast needs. 

In support of OAR’s Sandy Supplemental supported High Impact Weather Prediction Project 

(HIWPP), HRD is collaborating with NCEP/EMC to accelerate the development of a fully twoway interactive moving nested, multi scale, non-hydrostatic modeling system based on EMCdeveloped Nonhydrostatic Multiscale Model on B-grid (NMM-B) in the NOAA Environmental 

Modeling System (NEMS) framework. Multiple HWRF-like nests will be designed to operate at 

about 3 km resolution within a basin-scale and global version of NMM-B to capture tropical 

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cyclone inner core process and interactions with the large-scale environment, critical for 

improving track, intensity, rainfall and size predictions.

Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL)

At NOAA’s largest research facility, the Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL), scientists 

(from four complementary divisions) study and monitor atmospheric and other processes that 

affect weather, air quality, water resources, and climate. By researching the dynamic Earth 

system, ESRL improves understanding of what causes today’s weather, next month’s hurricanes, 

next season’s drought, and next century’s climate. ESRL integrates these findings into 

environmental information products ranging from weather support for aviation and emergency 

management, to methods that improve critical weather and climate tools used by the private 

sector, government agencies, decision-makers, and the public. ESRL research is so 

comprehensive that it is impossible to give each program or project equal mention. The 

following description highlights a very small portion of products and services provided by 

ESRL.

ESRL provides long-term, high quality observations of atmospheric composition that are critical 

for understanding changes in the Earth system. These observations are used worldwide by 

scientists studying climate, air quality, and ozone-depletion. They form the core of international 

observing systems and are critical for delivering updates of key products such as CarbonTracker, 

the NOAA Annual Greenhouse Gas Index (a national climate indicator), methane climatologies, 

CO2 trends (daily updates; a national climate indicator), the Ozone-Depleting Gas Index, 

GlobalView, and other long-term atmospheric composition data sets and products. They are used 

to set standards for GCOS, GEOSS, and WMO Global Atmosphere Watch. These observations 

stem from 6 global baseline observatories, ESRL-operated observing networks for stratospheric 

and tropospheric ozone, aerosols, surface radiation, ozone-depleting gases, and greenhouse 

gases, and a system of tall towers and aircraft observations across North America.

ESRL carries out process studies which improve understanding of the physics and dynamics 

associated with weather and other atmospheric phenomena. In FY16, ESRL will be a lead 

investigator on CalWater2, a broad interagency multi-year effort to better understand the 

formation, structure, and evolution of atmospheric rivers, as well as the impacts of aerosols on 

precipitation enhanced by orography. An extensive multi-platform field campaign was carried 

out in Jan.-Mar. 2015 in the eastern Pacific. In FY16, ESRL scientists will use the data collected 

during the NOAA-led CalWater and DEO-led ACAPEX 2015 field campaigns to learn more 

about atmospheric rivers and aerosol impacts. An evaluation of how well numerical models 

predict atmospheric rivers and their resulting precipitation will also occur. All of this research 

will result in presentations at international scientific meetings, such as those sponsored by AGU 

and AMS , and peer-reviewed publications. ESRL is active in Arctic research. This year ESRL 

will submit a report on the NOAA Science Challenge Workshop on the Arctic (held in Boulder 

in May 2014) that includes a summary of the workshop findings with recommendations for 

NOAA actions for the next 5-10 years.

The ESRL Global Systems Division (GSD) works with NOAA’s National Weather Service, 

other federal agencies, and private companies to transition technologies into operations One of 

ESRL’s most notable areas of achievement is development and R2O of numerical weather 

prediction products. Over the past several years, GSD has developed NWP models such as the 

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Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) and Rapid Refresh (RAP) and transitioned them to NWS operations.

For over a decade, the RUC was NOAA’s hourly-updated operational North American forecast 

model until it was replaced by the RAP model on May 1, 2012. The RAP increased coverage to 

all of North America, including Alaska. On September 30, 2014, the resolution became even 

finer at 3km when the High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model became operational. The 

HRRR represents a significant new level of capability for NWS. The HRRR is a real-time 3-km 

resolution, hourly updated atmospheric model, initialized by the RAP model with 3-km radar 

data assimilation. The finer resolutions allow, for example, air traffic managers to find a safe 

path around thunderstorms to land planes, to identify potential severe weather for neighborhoods, 

to accurately forecast weather for wind turbine farms, and to provide more localized predictions 

for managing wildfires. 

GSD is also developing higher-resolution regional ensemble guidance which provides more 

forecast uncertainty or probabilistic information, especially about severe weather. GSD is 

working with the NWS Environmental Modeling Center and the Developmental Testbed Center 

to develop the North American Rapid Refresh Ensemble (NARRE), providing hourly updates at 

a 12-km resolution. GSD continues to develop several global weather models, both hydrostatic 

and non-hydrostatic, based on the icosahedral grid to further accelerate improvements in the skill 

of US operational weather prediction systems and to be considered for the National Multi-Modal 

Ensemble (NMME).

Another successful transition involves the Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System 

(MADIS) which achieved Full Operational Capability at the National Weather Service in late 

January 2015. MADIS collects, integrates, quality controls, and distributes high-frequency 

observational weather data from both NOAA and non-NOAA sources. MADIS leverages 

partnerships with international agencies; federal, state and local agencies (e.g. states’ Department 

of Transportation); universities; volunteer networks; and the private sector (e.g., airlines, 

railroads) to integrate and quality check observations from their stations. GSD continues to 

“grow” the MADIS database by adding the data and functionalities of other observing stations 

and networks.

ESRL/GSD builds technologies that educate current and future generations about our changing 

Earth. The Science On a Sphere® (SOS) global display system uses computers and video 

projectors to display animated earth science datasets on the outside of a six-foot diameter sphere. 

The SOS is an education tool which explains Earth system science in an intuitive and captivating 

way to people of all ages. In FY2015, the number of NOAA patented Science On a Sphere® 

installations in museums and other large venues world-wide increased to 120 and should expand 

to 128 in FY2016.

Over the next year, ESRL/GSD will be transitioning the following technologies to operations:

• New versions of the Rapid Refresh and High Resolution Rapid Refresh numerical weather 

models providing new capabilities will be implemented into operations in June 2015 and 

April 2016.

• MADIS will incorporate observation data from two significant networks: the Federal High 

Administration’s Clarus (https://madis.noaa.gov/madis_comingsoon.shtml) and NWS’ 

Hydrometeorological Automated Data System (HADS) and Automated Flood Warning 

Systems (AFWS).

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• The first release of SOS ExplorerTM will provide teachers and students access to 

visualizations of over 500 Science On a Sphere® datasets and movies for use in their own 

classrooms (http://www.sos.noaa.gov/SOS_Explorer/).

• ESRL signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the private sector to 

conduct collaborative research and development pertaining to deriving and improving Global 

Positioning System/Global Navigation Satellite System neutral atmospheric measurements 

known as GPSMet. ESRL/GSD intends to transfer the existing NOAA GPS-Met data 

acquisition and processing system technology to the private sector. Phase I has been 

completed and Phase II will be completed by the end of FY2015. Transfer of the GPS-Met 

capability is expected by the end of FY2016.

ESRL/GSD develops, operates and manages high-performance computer systems that enable 

running many of NOAA’s experimental weather models. Enhanced technologies such as 

massively parallel fine grain computing allow massive amounts of data to run at higher spatial 

resolutions providing increased weather forecast accuracy. GSD develops techniques to prepare 

software to take advantage of these enhanced technologies from the private sector.

ESRL develops state-of-the-art forecast and decision-support systems to improve collaboration 

and decision-making between forecasters, emergency managers, and the public. These decision 

support systems provide decision-makers with additional tools to help them issue and 

communicate timely and accurate hazard information.

ESRL/Chemical Sciences Division research provides a scientific basis for efforts to improve air 

quality, and will continue to monitor long-lived gases in Earth’s changing atmosphere to advance 

understanding of climate-related effects of short-lived pollutants, atmospheric particles, and their 

interactions with clouds. Additionally ESRL will continue collaboration with USDA/USFS to 

identify and quantify emissions of gases and aerosols from burning of different biomass 

materials for improvement of forecast models that provide air quality information to the public 

and to responders on-scene at wildland fires. They will continue participation in the 

Tropospheric Ozone Lidar Network (TOLNet) to further understanding of processes in the 

atmospheric boundary layer that affect ozone and aerosols.

Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL)

The Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) mission is to advance scientific 

understanding of climate and its natural and anthropogenic variations and impacts, and improve 

NOAA’s predictive capabilities, through the development and use of world-leading computer 

models of the Earth System. GFDL scientists focus on model-building relevant for society, such 

as hurricane research, prediction, and seasonal forecasting, and understanding global and 

regional climate change. GFDL research encompasses the predictability and sensitivity of global 

and regional climate; the structure, variability, dynamics and interaction of the atmosphere and 

the ocean; and the ways that the atmosphere and oceans influence, and are influenced by various 

trace constituents. The scientific work of the Laboratory incorporates a variety of disciplines 

including meteorology, oceanography, hydrology, classical physics, fluid dynamics, chemistry, 

applied mathematics, and numerical analysis. 

Research at GFDL improves our understanding of atmospheric circulations, ranging in scale 

from hurricanes to extratropical storms and the general circulation, with an emphasis on extreme 

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weather events and the interplay between weather phenomena and climate variability and change 

at regional scales. High-resolution atmospheric models with comprehensive treatment of 

physical processes are central tools in this work. 

Ongoing research will continue to explore a potential breakthrough in predicting seasonal 

hurricane activity: atmospheric models forced with observed SST can skillfully predict the 

interannual variability of the number of hurricanes in the Atlantic, showing that the random part 

of this annual Atlantic hurricane frequency (the part not predictable given the SSTs) is relatively 

small. Identifying the processes that are key to determining tropical cyclone frequency may 

allow us to extend dynamical forecast lead-time toward one year. GFDL will also continue to 

improve statistical methods for using coupled climate models to develop long-lead-time forecasts 

of seasonal hurricane activity, and experimental forecasts will continue to be updated on GFDL’s 

website. Even longer lead-time predictions are targeted through a vigorous research program on 

decadal variability, predictability, and predictions. At the heart of that program are efforts to 

better understand physical processes that contribute to decadal variations and predictability in the 

climate system, particularly in terms of the role of the ocean as a driver of decadal-scale 

variations. Augmenting this research are decadal hindcast and prediction experiments yielding 

model-produced “predictions” for each year from 1961 to 2011. The ongoing analysis of these 

simulations seeks to evaluate whether predictive skill for near-term (decadal) climate forecasts is 

increased when starting from the observed state of the climate system, in addition to the 

predictive skill that arises from changing radiative forcing. Preliminary assessments of the 

predictive skill in these simulations reveal that they have skill that is at least comparable to other 

international efforts. 

Complementing this effort is research to improve our understanding of the interactive threedimensional radiative-dynamical-chemical-hydrological structure of the climate system, from the 

surface and troposphere to the upper stratosphere and mesosphere, on various time and space 

scales. Continued research in FY16 will focus on a better understanding of the response of global 

and regional climate to natural and anthropogenic aerosol emissions. GFDL’s world-leading 

high-resolution models use the very latest numerical techniques to provide extremely energetic, 

realistic simulations of the climate system. Through their use in FY16, GFDL seeks to further 

scientific understanding of the role of the ocean and atmospheric constituents in climate 

variability and change, on regional to global scales. This research continues to exploit NOAA’s 

high performance computing capability housed at DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 

Despite the relatively high computational cost, GFDL scientists believe it is critical to move to 

regional-scale high-resolution climate models to better understand the causes and predictability 

of decadal-scale climate fluctuations, as well as the role of the ocean in critical climate change 

issues, such as oceanic heat uptake.

Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL)

The Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) develops and operates 

technology for scientific observations in the Great Lakes ecosystem. GLERL scientists acquire 

the data and develop information needed to improve our understanding of the Great Lakes 

ecosystem and support decision-making for improved resource management. Advancements in 

areas such as remote sensing, the miniaturization of sensors, and other data-gathering 

technologies have vastly increased the data gathering capacity of the scientific community. 

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Additionally, GLERL tests and applies models for predicting the effects of natural and humangenerated changes on the Great Lakes environment. Modeling of the atmosphere, lakes, seasonal 

changes in ice cover, and the ecosystem dynamics of the lakes adds to our understanding of how 

the Great Lakes basin changes over the course of months and years. GLERL research on regional 

climate projections is based on atmospheric and coupled hydrodynamics-ice-ecosystem models. 

Research tools are designed to examine the effects of climate on regional air temperature, 

precipitation, water levels, lake temperature and thermal structure, ice cover, and ecological 

changes and trends. 

In FY 16, priorities for the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) include 

continuing research, development, and transfer of remote sensing products from the Great Lakes 

CoastWatch Node. GLERL will focus on satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and moderate 

resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) ice classification and mapping. GLERL will also 

focus on continued data collection and analysis for the advancement of ice-ocean ecosystem 

modeling in the Artic. GLERL’s hydrologic modeling program will advance the GLERL 

hydrometeorological database, improve Great Lakes basin runoff and evaporation estimates, and 

continue to enhance the Great Lakes hydroclimate dashboard. GLERL will continue efforts on 

regional climate projection impact assessment and historic trends analysis. GLERL will assess 

the similarity and differences between model runs from the Coupled Hydrosphere-Atmosphere 

Research Model (CHARM) with model runs from other GCMs. GLERL will continue to develop 

and validate modeling systems that contribute directly to projection of the overall water budget 

and levels of the Great Lakes, as well as enhances understanding of relevant climate change 

processes on a regional scale.

National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

The mission of the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) consists both of conducting 

fundamental research to advance our knowledge and understanding of meteorological processes 

associated with severe convective storms, as well as applied research and development leading 

to the transition of new and improved tools and techniques for observation, analysis, and 

prediction to the NWS and other stakeholders. These efforts are aimed at improving the accuracy 

and lead-time of severe weather forecasts and warnings, lending support to a Weather-Ready 

Nation that is resilient in the face of increasing vulnerability to severe and disruptive weather. In 

particular, NSSL seeks to improve the accuracy and timeliness of forecasts and warnings of 

severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail, flash floods, lightning, mixed precipitation in winter 

storms, and their societal impacts. Advancements in observing system capabilities and physical 

understanding of processes that produce hazardous convective weather are core to NSSL’s 

fundamental research. Numerous gaps in our knowledge of these processes remain. NSSL 

provides leadership in the understanding of storm structure, processes, and evolution, and the use 

of polarimetric radar observations to understand the interrelationships among microphysics, 

dynamics, electrification, and lightning activity across a broad spectrum of convective storms.

Moving research to operations is a core part of NSSL’s mission. More than two decades ago, 

NSSL pioneered development and use of Doppler radars to monitor convective storms and detect 

signatures of severe weather, which eventually led to the establishment of the national network 

of Doppler radars (WSR-88D). Our subsequent work demonstrated the ability of polarimetric 

radar to improve precipitation estimates and identify hydrometeor types, leading to a powerful 

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recent enhancement of the WSR-88D capabilities over the last couple of years. NSSL’s basic 

research with lightning strike mapping systems contributed to incorporation of lightning strike 

data into NWS operations and provided a foundation for the development of applications for the 

future Geosynchronous Lightning Mapper (GLM). Experience with data integration systems led 

to the implementation of the Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor System (MRMS) into NWS operations in 

October 2014, which has resulted in improvements to warnings for flash floods and other high 

impact weather. NSSL scientists have worked closely over the past two decades with the Storm 

Prediction Center (SPC) and NWS Forecast Offices at the Hazardous Weather Testbed (HWT) to 

demonstrate the value of cutting-edge ensemble weather prediction systems to determine the 

probability of a severe weather event.

NSSL’s research for the next decade is focused around six “grand scientific challenges” 

representing challenging, yet achievable and societally important problems that. Specifically, 

NSSL scientists are seeking to attain the goal of the Warn-on-Forecast program in providing 

NWS forecasters with the probabilistic guidance needed to extend lead-times for severe 

thunderstorm and tornado warnings out to one hour with substantially reduced false alarms. 

Second, we consider it necessary to enhance WSR- 88D capabilities while addressing this aging 

operational radar technology, current gaps in radar coverage, and longstanding limits of tornado 

lead time with high false alarm rates by developing advanced radar concepts such as phased 

array radar. Third, NSSL is developing the capability to reliably predict flash flooding for both 

urban and complex landscapes several hours in advance, providing a probabilistic hydrologic 

prediction with much longer lead time and more accurate prediction than current systems. 

Fourth, our research seeks to demonstrate that useful warnings of lightning activity can be 

predicted one hour in advance from the very onset of convection to its demise, both in-cloud (as 

an indicator of storm intensity changes and short-term predictor of severe weather potential) and 

cloud-to-ground lightning (for public safety and aviation concerns). Fifth, our plans are to 

develop a reliable nowcasting system for convection initiation that goes well beyond the current 

reliance on surface, radar and satellite detection of low-level boundaries, so as to address 

fundamental gaps in our understanding of how the pre-convective environment is evolving in 

terms of available moisture, instability, wind shear, and storm generation mechanisms. Finally, 

NSSL will provide uncertainty information for high impact weather to reduce tornado and other 

severe weather warning false alarms significantly and provide the public with probabilistic, riskbased information to replace current “binary” yes/no warning areas. This is needed to greatly 

improve public decision-making to attain a better-informed Weather-Ready Nation that is 

resilient to dangerous, high-impact weather events.

Weather Radar Research. The NSSL continues to conduct basic and applied R&D aimed at 

exploring and advancing weather radar science and technology of existing and future weather 

radar systems. NSSL works closely with the NWS in R2O activities to evolve and improve the 

operational WSR-88D network (NEXRAD). These efforts are critical in maintaining the viability 

and operational relevance throughout the fleet’s long projected life. Concurrently, NSSL is 

dedicated in exploring the next generation of weather radar and is partnering with the FAA to 

evaluate the feasibility of applying phased array radar technology to meet multi-agency 

requirements.

The operational deployment of dual polarization throughout the WRS-88D fleet has led to the 

discovery of unique polarimetric signatures that are proving to be useful in winter weather 

applications as well as showing promise in having prognostic and detection capabilities for 

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significant severe weather events. NSSL scientists are refining the Hydrometeor Classification 

Algorithm (HCA), in part, by combining polarimetric numerical model information to improve 

the HCA’s classification capabilities near the Earth’s surface, in particular for cases of winter 

weather. Operational algorithms are being developed that utilize polarimetric information. These

algorithms will be useful in forecasting the potential for rapid convective development and 

transition of the storms into the dangerous supercell stage (Zdr columns and Zdr arcs) as well as 

the detection of tornadic debris that help to identify damaging tornadoes and pinpoint their 

locations.

NSSL continues to work to address data quality issues in the operational WSR-88D network.

Techniques have been developed to improve ground clutter mitigation performance. Clutter 

contaminants artificially inflate/deflate quantitative precipitation estimates (QPE) and can 

obscure weather estimates. Other techniques to address range-and-velocity ambiguity mitigation 

have been developed and have been transitioned to the WSR-88D and will improve the ability to 

detect severe weather, flash floods, winter storms, and provide aviation forecasts.

NSSL is also actively engaged in a risk reduction activity for the Multifunction Phased Array 

Radar (MPAR) technology with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and industry in 

designing and testing dual-polarized phased array radar panels (see Section 3, Aviation 

Services). These activities are an effort to determine the feasibility of using MPAR as the 

replacement technology for weather and aircraft surveillance radars (i.e. multi-function). A 

recent accomplishment this year was the successful development of a small-scale (consisting of 

640 transmit/receive elements) dual-polarization phased array radar in collaboration with the 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory. The major MPAR risk reduction 

activities for FY16 are to test and evaluate the small-scale dual-polarized phased array radar 

demonstrator.

Since 2003, NSSL has improved the capabilities of the National Weather Radar Testbed 

(NWRT) Phased Array Radar (PAR) to demonstrate the potential of PAR technology to 

simultaneously perform aircraft tracking and weather surveillance. Emphasis has been placed in 

developing proof-of-concept strategies for focused and tailored observations of weather. Case 

studies and Phased Array Radar Innovative Sensing Experiments held in the HWT are examining 

the importance of these rapid-scan radar data to understanding severe storm processes and 

improving the accuracy of severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings.

High Impact Hazardous Weather Research. NSSL is taking the lead on a groundbreaking 

project called Warn-on-Forecast (WoF). This research project aims to create computer-model 

projections that accurately predict storm-scale phenomena such as tornadoes, large hail, and 

extreme localized rainfall. The goal of WoF is to provide NWS forecasters with reliable 

guidance for the likelihood of each of these phenomena at any location up to an hour before they 

strike, enabling a new early-warning paradigm for extreme localized weather events.

NSSL is actively engaged in several lightning research projects, including three different 

approaches to the assimilation of lightning data into forecast models (e.g., nudging water vapor 

mixing ratio to force convection in the WRF-ARW, employing an operator to assimilate 

lightning data into an EnKF model, and investigating relationships between lightning bursts and 

changes in the intensity of inner-wall convection of hurricanes).

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NSSL is also testing and refining new ground-based remote sensing instruments that can provide 

frequently updated observations of the temperature, moisture, and wind fields in the lower 

atmosphere. Knowledge about rapid changes in these fields is a key piece of information that has 

the potential to significantly enhance prediction and warning of rapidly developing weather 

hazards, particularly severe thunderstorms. NSSL is developing and testing trailer-based mobile 

observation platforms containing these instruments. These platforms can be strategically placed 

“on-demand” to provide these key observations and advance forecasting and warning 

capabilities.

Revitalizig the Warning Decision Process. NSSL is working with the NWS to develop a new 

vision for the warning decision process, which continues to evolve as scientists and engineers 

work toward integrating the next-generation radar technology (e.g., rapid scanning phased array 

radar) and storm-scale numerical models to create a storm-scale ensemble prediction capability 

for the NWS. Within the next decade, NSSL envisions operational units using WoF 

methodology; for example, a forecaster will use thunderstorm-resolving computer models for 

severe weather warnings in the same way as he/she does today with the current Doppler radar 

systems. To make the best use of these technological advances, NSSL is collaborating with the 

NWS in the exploration and development of a new paradigm for hazardous weather forecasting 

known as Forecasting a Continuum of Environmental Threats (FACETs). FACETs is intended to 

move the NWS from a deterministic, binary, product-centric system to one in which a rapidlyupdated, high-resolution stream of (probabilistic) hazardous weather information, fed by current 

and future scientific tools (e.g., WoF, PAR) can be optimized for user-specific decision making.

As such, FACETs represents a fundamental change in the nation’s hazardous weather forecasting 

system.

Office of Weather and Air Quality (OWAQ)

NOAA’s Office of Weather and Air Quality (OWAQ) improves weather and air chemistry 

forecast information and products by funding, facilitating, and coordinating research, as well as 

supports the transition of research results into operations. By working with scientists and 

academic partners, this research is transitioned into useful weather applications, watches and

warnings to protect the lives and property of the American public and inform weather-sensitive 

U.S. industry. OWAQ provides outreach, linkages, and coordination between NOAA, other 

Government agencies, academia, the private sector, and non-profit research partnerships, 

particularly NOAA’s Cooperative Institutes and Cooperative Science Centers. OWAQ 

additionally supports social science studies to test research results that improve communication 

during dangerous weather situations.

In FY16, OWAQ will continue supporting projects through the U.S. Weather Research Program 

(USWRP) to improve high-impact weather and air quality forecasting and also improve NOAA’s 

global modeling system from days to months through the National ESPC project. National, as 

well as supporting the transition of weather research results toward National Weather Service 

operations. and decadal OWAQ will also support testbeds and high-resolution numerical model 

improvements to enable better high-impact weather forecasts, including tropical cyclones, 

extreme precipitation, and severe thunderstorms. In addition, air quality modeling research will 

contribute to improving National Weather Service smoke, dust, and volcanic ash predictions. 

OWAQ will also fund social science research that helps to understand how society uses and 

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interprets weather information and how to improve the communication of weather information to 

the public.

Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL)

Meteorological research at PMEL focuses on air-sea interaction research in the Gulf of Alaska 

Bering Sea, and Chukchi Sea, as part of PMEL’s Ecosystem-Fisheries Oceanography 

Coordinated Investigations (EcoFOCI) project, conducted jointly with NOAA’s National Marine 

Fisheries Service/Alaska Fisheries Science Center. Financial support for the research is provided 

by NOAA, NSF, the North Pacific Research Board (NPRB), and the DOI/Bureau of Ocean 

Energy Management (BOEM).

PMEL’s ocean climate research programs collect surface meteorological data from moored 

buoys and report in near-real time for ingest into global models. Data from PMEL’s PIRATA 

and RAMA tropical observing systems in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and from PMEL’s 

ocean climate stations at Ocean Weather Station Papa (Gulf of Alaska) and the Kuroshio 

Extension Observatory in the Northwest Pacific report surface meteorological data.

PMEL conducts research on atmospheric aerosols and their impact on air quality and climate. In 

2016 (November) and 2017 (May), PMEL is participating in NAAMES (North Atlantic Aerosols 

and Marine Ecosystems) research cruises. NAAMES is a multi-platform, interdisciplinary 

investigation focused on marine ecosystems and aerosol properties in the climate sensitive North 

Atlantic. NAAMES will study the annual life cycle of phytoplankton and the impact small 

airborne particles derived from marine organisms have on climate in the North Atlantic. PMEL 

will make shipboard measurements to characterize the emission, properties, and cloud nucleating 

ability of sea spray aerosol over a range of ocean conditions and seasons.

NASA Supporting Research for Basic Meteorological Services

Research in Basic Meteorology and Atmospheric Science

The FY 2016 budget will fund research competitively selected in FY 2015 through NASA’s 

Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 2014 (ROSES-14) grant application 

solicitation. This ROSES opportunity addresses Severe Storm Research and will fund 

investigations that use measurements acquired from the vantage point of space to:

• Conduct basic research on the formation and intensification of severe storms that lead to the 

formation of tornados; and 

• Assess if satellite-based products, coupled with advanced algorithms and models, can result 

in more accurate forecasts and warnings.

Many of the research activities carried out in FY 2016 will be tasks initiated in FY 2014 based 

on the earlier ROSES-13 solicitations. Selections based on ROSES-13 are ongoing and are 

addressing diverse Earth Science research areas. NASA sponsored research continues to gain 

new insight into weather and extreme-weather events by the utilization of data obtained from a 

variety of NASA- and partner satellite platforms and hurricane field experiments. 

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In addition, NASA has a long history of conducting airborne field campaigns in support of 

hurricane research (http://airbornescience.nsstc.nasa.gov/field/). During June and July 2015, 

NASA’s instrumented DC-8 research aircraft will participate in the Plains Elevated Convection 

at Night (PECAN) experiment. PECAN is a large meteorology experiment sponsored by NSF, 

NOAA, NASA, and DOE. The scientific goal of the project is to collect data before and during 

nighttime severe storms in order to learn how they form, why some become severe, and how to 

predict them better. Most recently, NASA’s ER-2 instrumented research aircraft participated in 

CalWater 2015, a multiagency, interdisciplinary field campaign to study atmospheric rivers, 

short-lived weather events that carry a flood of moisture from the tropics to the U.S. West Coast. 

Further, the Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) Mission, a five-year Earth Venture 

Class Suborbital mission that was awarded in 2010, has obtained data from its base at the 

Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) on the coastline of Virginia during the hurricane seasons of 2012-

2014 (https://espo.nasa.gov/missions/hs3/). This campaign used Global Hawk (GH) unmanned 

aircraft systems (UAS) and the NASA WB-57 manned aircraft with distinct payloads to address 

both inner-core and near-storm environmental science objectives. The HS3 Mission was 

designed to investigate some basic questions regarding changes in hurricane intensity:

1. What impact does the large-scale environment, particularly the Saharan Air Layer (SAL), 

have on intensity change?

2. What is the role of storm internal processes such as deep convective towers?

3. To what extent are these intensification processes predictable?

Over three years of measurements, HS3 performed 19 overflights of 9 named Atlantic tropical 

cyclones and also sampled several non-developing tropical waves and the Saharan Air Layer. 

Analysis of the data is ongoing in FY15 and will be completed in FY16.

To aid in its advanced planning process, NASA held the Workshop on Scientific Challenges and 

Opportunities in NASA Weather Focus Area in April 2015, gathering community leaders from 

NASA, NOAA, DoD, FAA, OFCM, NGOs, academia, industry, and international organizations. 

Participants identified some of the most challenging scientific research and development topics, 

which will be used to inform future program planning for the NASA Weather Focus Area, as 

well as provide inputs to the Earth Science Decadal Survey and NASA’s Earth Science 

Technology Office.

Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center

NASA encourages more rapid use of NASA’s observations in operational weather predictions. 

The Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) center at NASA Marshall Space 

Flight Center is chartered to partially fulfill this research to operation transition activity. The 

SPoRT center has become NASA’s primary research and operation transition interface with the 

National Weather Service for short-term (0 to 48 hours) weather predictions. Many NASA 

research data products are tested in near real time and disseminate to NOAA’s weather forecast 

offices. NASA also funds external research proposals to collaborate with the SPoRT center to 

accelerate the transition of research data to at least one operational environment.

In FY2015, NASA continued the investment in SPoRT and the external research projects to 

accelerate the transition of research data to operational environments. Several proposals funded 

by ROSES-13 program element “NASA Data for Operation and Assessment” will continue and 

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finish efforts in FY15. In FY2016, NASA plans to announce another run of NASA Data for 

Operation and Assessment ROSES element.

Technology Development

Technology investments are aligned with NASA's Climate Centric Architecture strategic 

document. A majority of the investments are centered on the National Research Council (NRC) 

Decadal Survey1 activities, but many support NASA’s foundational and climate continuity 

missions. Such investments focus on maturation of technologies to enable advanced space-based 

observations and modeling to improve understanding of the global integrated Earth system, 

including global and regional climate change. The Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) 

provides funding for instrument, component, and information technologies prior to mission 

formulation. Developing and validating technologies well in advance of a flight project help to 

improve acceptance and reduce costs. Projects are initiated regularly through the ROSES 

solicitation, and the duration of each project is typically three years. For FY 2015, ongoing 

investigations will be managed in the Instrument Incubator, Advanced Information Systems 

Technology, Advanced Component Technology, and In-space Validation of Earth Science 

Technology areas. New investments will be awarded in FY 2015 under the In-space Validation 

of Earth Science Technology area through a 2015 ROSES solicitation. Of note, in early FY 2015 

a new radiance instrument, the HyperSpectral Imager for Climate Science (HySICS), made a 

successful balloon flight, collecting the most accurate solar radiance measurements (calibrated to 

the Sun to better than 0.2 percent radiometric accuracy) that have ever been made of the Earth.

FY 2016 will see the release of the AIST-16 ROSES solicitation, and the launch of IceCube, a 

three unit CubeSat under development to validate a new 874-GHz radiometer for use in future 

ice cloud measurement missions.

NASA Applied Sciences Program

The Applied Sciences Program leverages NASA satellite measurements and new scientific 

knowledge to enable innovative and practical uses by public and private sector organizations. 

Projects, which are competitively selected through ROSES, are designed to discover and 

demonstrate new applications and facilitate adoption by non-NASA organizations. In FY 2016 

the Applied Sciences Program will continue to initiate projects across a range of application 

areas, including health and air quality, water resources, disasters, and ecological forecasting. The 

Program’s Capacity Building element sponsors programs and projects that improve the skills and 

capabilities of decision makers, community leaders, and resource managers in the United States 

and abroad related to accessing and applying Earth observations. NASA will continue to build 

such capacity through the SERVIR, DEVELOP, and Applied Remote SEnsing Training 

(ARSET) program elements. The SERVIR program is a joint venture between NASA and the 

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which provides satellite-based Earth 

observation data and science applications to help developing nations in Eastern and Southern 

1 NASA and its partners ask the NRC once each decade to look out ten or more years into the future and prioritize 

research areas, observations, and notional missions to make those observations. The last Decadal Survey was 

completed in 2007, entitled Earth Science and Applications from Space: National Imperatives for the Next Decade 

and Beyond.

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Africa, the Hindu Kush-Himalaya, the Mekong, and Mesoamerica to improve their 

environmental decision-making. In FY2016, SERVIR plans to extend work into West Africa. 

The NASA DEVELOP program fosters an interdisciplinary research environment for interns to 

work on applied science research projects with a local government partner under the guidance of 

NASA and partner science advisors. The ARSET project trains decision-makers and applied 

science professionals in the areas of water resources, disasters, health/air quality, land, and 

wildfire management to use NASA’s Earth Science observations, tools, and models to support 

their decision-making.

National Science Foundation

To improve weather forecasts and public safety, the NSF supports basic research on 

observational systems, analysis techniques, and understanding of phenomena. NSF awards grants 

to single investigators or small collaborative groups working on specific topics, as well as larger 

interdisciplinary groups and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. NSF also supports 

the operation of a number of systems intended for community use, such as the NSF/NCAR GV 

research aircraft and the Center for Severe Weather Research Doppler on Wheels.

Examples of recent award topics related to meteorological services include mesoscale 

predictability, boundary layer processes, and numerical modeling techniques. NSF also continues 

to support the analysis of data collected during recent major field campaigns dealing with 

tornadoes, hurricanes, winter storms, and the Madden Julian Oscillation. NSF is funding a large 

field experiment that will explore nocturnal organized convection in the US Plains states during 

the Summer of 2015, called the Plains Elevated Convection at Night (PECAN) campaign.

NOAA will be an interagency partner in this effort. In FY15, NSF is running a second 

competition for the Interdisciplinary Research in Hazards and Disasters program, which falls 

under the Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability (SEES) portfolio in NSF. The 

first competition funded awards relevant to basic meteorological services, including the 

mitigation and response to hurricanes, tornadoes and flash flooding. The FY16 budget request 

also introduces a new activity called PREEVENTS (Prediction of and Resilience against 

Extreme Events) which falls under the NSF Risk and Resilience umbrella. 

Figure 4: The figure above is a visualization of the cloud field of a tornadic supercell thunderstorm. Main image: The 

view of the supercell thunderstorm from a distance of about 50 km. Visible features include a rotating updraft 

(mesocyclone), overshooting thunderstorm top, anvil, and tornado. Inset: A close-up view of the tornado, wall cloud, and 

tail cloud. The simulated tornado is on the ground for an hour and a half and produces winds in excess of 300 miles per 

hour near the ground. Credit: Leigh Orf, Central Michigan University Robert Wilhelmson, University of Illinois

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

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AGRICULTURAL AND LAND MANAGEMENT

METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Interagency Programs 

Joint Agricultural Weather Facility (JAWF)

In 1978, the World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB) and the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) formed the Joint Agricultural Weather Facility (JAWF).

JAWF is as an operational unit, serving as an important link between the respective 

meteorological components of the Departments of Agriculture and Commerce. Additional 

information on the JAWF is included in the U.S. Department of Agriculture narrative below and 

at http://www.usda.gov/oce/weather/.

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Office of the Chief Economist

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) 

World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB) serves as the USDA focal point for economic 

intelligence and commodity outlook for U.S. and world agriculture. The WAOB coordinates, 

reviews, and approves the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report.

The WASDE report provides USDA’s forecasts of supply and demand for major U.S. and global 

crops as well as U.S. livestock. The WAOB maintains the integrity of this report by ensuring all 

information used to prepare the report is consistent, objective, and reliable. Because weather and 

climate have a significant impact on agricultural production, the WAOB employs meteorologists 

who specialize in preparing agricultural weather assessments, the group being collectively 

referred to as OCE/WAOB’s Office of the Chief Meteorologist (OCM). 

The primary mission of OCM staff is to routinely collect global weather data and agricultural 

information to assess the impact of growing season weather conditions on crops and livestock 

production prospects, keeping USDA commodity analysts, the OCE, and the Secretary of 

Agriculture and top staff well informed of weather impacts on crops and livestock worldwide.

These assessments are integrated into USDA’s monthly analytical process to develop monthly 

foreign crop estimates of area, yield, and production published in the monthly WASDE reports.

For purposes of this Federal Plan, Agricultural and Land Management Meteorological Services are 

those services and facilities established to meet the requirements of the agricultural industries and 

Federal, state, and local agencies charged with the protection and maintenance of the Nation's land 

areas. Meteorological services specifically tailored for wildland fire management are reported under 

the Wildland Fire Weather service category.

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

In addition to providing routine agricultural weather assessments, OCM meteorologists prepare 

special assessments when extreme weather (e.g., droughts, heat waves, freezes, floods, and 

hurricanes) has been observed or is imminent. Alerts of anomalous weather conditions impacting 

agriculture around the globe are also routinely included in a daily report of agricultural 

developments that is sent to USDA policy makers each afternoon. When integrated with other 

data, these routine and special crop-weather assessments and analyses provide critical 

information to USDA decision-makers preparing crop production forecasts, formulating trade 

policy, and coordinating disaster relief.

While many of the group’s core functions are internal, OCM staff routinely disseminates 

information to the public. Each morning, a written summary of current weather affecting 

agriculture in the United States is sent to the Secretary’s office and posted on the OCE website: 

http://www.usda.gov/oce/weather/pubs/Daily/TODAYSWX.pdf. The meteorologists also 

routinely give public interviews, available not only through USDA’s Information Office but also 

private sector media outlets. In 2012 and 2013, for example, OCM staff played a key role in 

providing assessments of the historic drought that impacted much of the Nation’s agriculture by 

conducting interviews with national and international news outlets and disseminating unique 

products and assessments via the USDA homepage and blog.

In support of its mission, the OCM receives a full suite of meteorological data and products from 

the NWS for use in their assessments, including surface weather observations, radar data, 

satellite imagery, and model output. As part of the aforementioned JAWF agreement, the OCM 

serves as the focal point for dissemination of meteorological data and products to other USDA 

agencies, including weather data received from the Global Observing System, a worldwide 

network of nearly 8,000 meteorological reporting stations managed by the World Meteorological 

Organization (WMO). Additionally, the OCM obtains data from the NWS Cooperative Observer 

Program (COOP) to support domestic agricultural weather applications. In recent years, the 

NWS, National Hurricane Center (NHC), CPC, and the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center 

have supported USDA by providing an increasing number of their operational products in GIScompatible formats. These NOAA GIS efforts have benefited the OCM significantly by 

increasing the speed and efficiency with which agricultural weather assessments can be prepared 

and enabling analysts to more accurately assess weather impacts on agriculture.

JAWF’s flagship publication, the Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin (WWCB), is jointly 

produced by the OCM, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), and NOAA/CPC.

First published in 1872 as the Weekly Weather Chronicle, the publication provides a vital source 

of information on weather, climate, and agricultural developments worldwide. The WWCB 

highlights weekly meteorological and agricultural developments on national and international 

scales, via numerous maps, charts, tables, and text products. In total, these products provide a 

comprehensive illustration of the weather and climate conditions affecting agriculture, benefiting 

USDA decision makers and the agricultural community. Crop and weather information provided 

in the WWCB keeps crop and livestock producers, farm organizations, agribusinesses, state and 

national farm policy-makers, government agencies, and foreign buyers of agricultural products 

apprised of worldwide weather-related developments and their effects on crops and livestock.

The extensive history provides a reference source that is rich in climate and agricultural 

information, which is essential for episodic-events monitoring and analog-year comparisons.

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Agricultural and Land Management Services

Although the main emphasis of the WWCB is on current growing-season weather conditions and 

agricultural developments in the United States, real-time agricultural weather assessments are 

also provided for foreign countries that are either major exporters or importers of agricultural 

commodities. While providing timely weather and crop information relevant to the monthly 

Crop Production and WASDE reports (issued by USDA/NASS and USDA/OCE/WAOB, 

respectively), the WWCB keeps the U.S. agricultural sector apprised of weather conditions 

impacting agriculture in foreign markets, which could possibly influence production decisions at 

the farm level.

In September 1994, the OCM published Major World Crop Areas and Climatic Profiles

(Agricultural Handbook No. 664). Knowledge of historical weather and climate patterns and past 

agricultural production in major agricultural regions worldwide is critical to the success of 

JAWF’s agrometeorological assessments, and this reference handbook provides the framework 

for assessing the weather’s impact on world crop production by providing information on climate 

and crop data for key producing regions and countries. Coverage includes major agricultural 

regions and crops, including coarse grains, winter and spring wheat, rice, major oilseeds, sugar, 

and cotton. World maps show the normal developmental stage of regional crops by month. No 

longer issued in a paper format, an electronic version of the handbook was developed to provide 

periodic updates to the printed version as additional data become available. The Major World 

Crop Areas and Climatic Profiles book and other publications are available online at 

http://www.usda.gov/oce/weather/pubs/index.htm.

In the summer of 1999, the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) was developed to help improve 

drought assessments in the United States. The USDM is a collaborative effort between federal 

and academic partners, including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln National Drought 

Mitigation Center (NDMC), USDA, CPC, the NOAA/NESDIS/National Climatic Data Center, 

and the Desert Research Institute. Approximately 11 lead authors, two of whom work for the 

OCM, rotate the responsibility of preparing the USDM. Produced weekly, the USDM is a 

synthesis of multiple indices and impacts depicted on a map and in narrative form. The NDMC 

hosts the USDM on its Website at http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu. The USDM, released each 

Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time, is a key source of information for briefing USDA top staff 

on U.S. drought developments. In recent years, the USDM has served as a trigger mechanism for 

several USDA programs and, because the USDM is prepared in a GIS, it is often overlaid on 

agricultural data to illustrate and quantify the spatial extent of drought affecting various 

agricultural commodities (Figure 1). In 2013, OCE entered into a cooperative agreement with 

the NDMC to improve U.S. agricultural drought monitoring capabilities and assessments by 

integrating USDA agricultural statistics and other relevant data sets into a GIS format to improve 

author’s ability to incorporate various information types into their analytical process.

Similarly, the North American Drought Monitor (NADM) is a cooperative drought monitoring 

effort among drought experts in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The NADM was 

initiated at a workshop in April 2002 and is part of a larger effort to improve the monitoring of 

North American climate extremes. Issued monthly since January 2003, the NADM is based on 

the end-of-month USDM analysis and input from scientists in Canada and Mexico. Major 

participants in the NADM program include the USDM collaborators – two of whom are OCM 

staff – as well as Agriculture and Agrifood Canada and the National Meteorological Service of 

Mexico. The NADM Website is: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/temp-andprecip/drought/nadm/index.html.

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

A U.S. Drought Monitor Forum and a North American Drought Monitor Forum are held in 

alternating years. These meetings provide an opportunity for Drought Monitor authors, 

stakeholders, and members of the drought community to discuss the latest drought monitoring 

tools, drought analyses, and requirements. The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor Forum was 

held on April 13-17, 2015, in Reno, Nevada, while a North American Drought Monitor Forum 

was recently held on June 17-19, 2014, in Toronto, Canada.

Figure 1. Percent of U.S. corn area in drought, according to the May 5, 2015, U.S. Drought Monitor.

OCE is one of several USDA agencies that have taken a lead role in the development of National 

Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), working closely with lead Federal agency 

NOAA and the Western Governors Association (WGA) over the years to address the specific 

needs of the agricultural community. The NIDIS builds upon existing drought monitoring tools 

and experiences, such as the USDM, to develop an early warning system that aids in drought 

preparation and mitigation. Recommendations for such an early warning system were outlined in 

a 2004 report from the WGA entitled “Creating a Drought Early Warning System for the 21st

Century: The National Integrated Drought Information System.” One of the early deliverables of 

NIDIS was the Drought Portal (http://www.drought.gov), which serves as the Government’s 

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Agricultural and Land Management Services

multi-agency drought interface. The OCM is working with other USDA agencies to provide 

relevant drought information to the public via the Drought Portal.

As a result of the aforementioned activities with the NDMC, NOAA, and other agencies and 

organizations, OCE is a recognized leader within the USDA in the area of drought. In December, 

2012, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between USDA and NOAA to collaborate 

on projects of mutual interest, with particular emphasis on establishing new partnerships in the 

area of drought monitoring and mitigation. OCE enjoyed a lead role in developing the agreement 

and is currently working with NOAA to develop a work plan to identify near- and long-term 

deliverables and opportunities for collaboration. In 2014, USDA announced the creation of seven 

Climate Hub and three Sub-Hub locations. Under the direction of OCE’s Climate Change 

Program Office, the Climate Hubs will deliver science-based knowledge, practical information 

and program support to farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, and resource managers to support 

decision-making related to climate change. Key partners in the networks include the public and 

land grant universities, Cooperative Extension, USDA researchers, the private sector, state, local 

and regional governments, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Department of Interior (DOI) regional climate change experts, and non-profits engaged in 

providing assistance to landowners.

Throughout its history, WAOB has successfully worked with international groups, including 

representatives of foreign governments and of multinational organizations. WAOB remains 

active in the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Commission for Agricultural 

Meteorology (CAgM), and a WAOB meteorologist is currently serving on the Management 

Group of the WMO CAgM, helping guide Commission efforts to improve support systems for 

agrometeorological services. This position helps coordinate Expert Teams responsible for 

reviewing the operational applications of current agrometeorological data, analytical tools, and 

information delivery systems and making recommendations on the procedures, methodologies, 

and resources necessary to improve the capability for operational applications. Additionally, 

WAOB continues to support the World AgroMeteorological Information Service (WAMIS), a 

dedicated web server that hosts agrometeorological bulletins and advisories issued by WMO 

Members for the global agricultural community (http://www.wamis.org/). WAOB is 

collaborating with other WMO Members to expand WAMIS capabilities, including the 

development on a web-based GIS capability that will dynamically integrate weather and climate 

information.

Risk Management Agency

The Risk Management Agency (RMA), Strategic Data Acquisition and Analyses (SDAA) unit 

works with Oregon State University’s Parameter-Elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes 

Model (PRISM) Climate Group through the Center for Agribusiness Excellence (CAE), Tarleton 

State University, to produce and utilize innovative spatial climate data sets to identify and 

investigate potentially fraudulent crop loss claims. CAE manages RMA’s day to day operations 

of the Agency’s data mining and data warehouse operations and Oregon State University’s 

PRISM Climate Group is a leader for spatial climate analysis. It produces the USDA’s official 

normal (30-year average) data sets of temperature and precipitation for the United States, as well 

as time series of climatological variables spanning 1895-present.

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

High-quality weather and climate data is a key factor in improving the integrity and efficiency of 

the Federal crop insurance program. Precipitation, with its high spatial variability and importance 

in crop production, stands out as a climate variable that, on the one hand is essential to estimate 

accurately, but on the other suffers from insufficient observations. Existing precipitation 

networks are not sufficiently dense to capture the spatial variability of precipitation, especially 

during the growing season, when convective systems with spotty precipitation patterns are the 

rule. Snowfall is not measured accurately by most automated systems, resulting in poor 

wintertime observations over much of the US.

The program weakness addressed by PRISM is that many crop loss claims involve parcels that 

are distant from the nearest climate station, requiring that climatic conditions for those parcels be 

estimated. PRISM data sets are interpolated to a regular grid, and can be queried to provide 

estimates at any location across the United States. In addition, the PRISM data sets are 

recognized as the most accurate source of spatial climate data available. As such, they are a 

principal data source in an overall model for synergistically using climate information and localto regional-scale ground-truthing to characterize the validity of crop insurance claims. Based on 

their long history of developing observation-based climate products, PRISM also has a unique 

capability to provide expert interpretation of the data sets and their quality. This project is 

designed to utilize and improve the accuracy of PRISM spatial climate data sets, and provide for 

expert interpretation of these data sets for crop loss insurance claims.

PRISM also provides RMA and the Approved Insurance Provider’s (AIP’s) operational support 

through a web based program that allows the AIP’s to substantiate weather events and producers 

claims much faster which can expedite the claims process. The precision offered through the web 

based system offers major improvement over other data the agency has used in the past, because 

some events can be extremely local.

Department of Interior

Bureau of Land Management, Land 

Management Services

The Department of Interior’s (DOI) Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM) utilizes air-resource-related (air 

quality, weather, and climate) information in order to 

manage public lands in a manner consistent with 

Congressional direction as expressed in the Federal Land 

Policy Management Act (FLPMA). FLPMA directs the 

BLM to periodically and systematically inventory 

resources through a land-use planning process and to 

manage public lands in a manner that protects the quality of 

scientific, scenic, historical, ecological, environmental, air 

and atmospheric, as well as other natural resources. The 

BLM also requires air-resource-related information to conduct environmental analyses under the 

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for agency-initiated activities and land-use 

authorizations and to ensure compliance with pollution laws such as the Clean Air Act.

Figure 2: Meteorological Station at South Coal, 

WY

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Agricultural and Land Management Services

The BLM must therefore obtain, collect, and analyze air-resource-related information to (1) 

determine baseline conditions of air and atmospheric values on the public lands; (2) evaluate 

changes in baseline conditions (trends); (3) understand the extent to which other natural 

resources (vegetation, hydrology, wildlife, range, minerals, etc.) are influenced by atmospheric 

conditions so that informed management decisions can be made; and (4) to assist in developing 

models to predict future conditions; such as, atmospheric dispersion models to assess air quality 

impacts. The BLM obtains information of 

acceptable quality collected from existing 

monitoring networks operated by other agencies 

and programs whenever possible to promote 

efficiency and avoid duplication of efforts. 

Examples of these networks include the 

National Weather Service Cooperative 

Observer Network, Natural Resources 

Conservation Service (NRCS) SNOw pack 

TELemetry (SNOTEL) and Soil Climate 

Analysis Network (SCAN) networks, the 

National Interagency Fire Center Remote 

Automated Weather Station (RAWS) network, 

the Bureau of Reclamation Agricultural 

Weather (AgriMet) networks, the Community 

Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow 

(CoCoRaHS) network, the National 

Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP), the U.S. Geological Survey National Streamflow 

Information Program (NSIP), and individual state climate offices.

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Research Service

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the principal in-house research agency for USDA 

and conducts research on all aspects of agriculture including crop and livestock production, 

natural resources and sustainable agriculture systems, and human nutrition and food safety.

Weather-related research by ARS develops technologies to enable agriculture to cope with, and 

when possible benefit from, the effects of weather on crop and livestock production and natural 

resources and ecosystem services. Weather and climate data inputs and an understanding of 

weather-driven processes are critical to the development of crop growth and yield models, 

erosion models, nutrient cycling models, soil-plant-atmosphere process models, and many other 

simulation tools needed to provide continual advancements for agriculture. Such simulation tools 

are the foundations for the development of decision-support systems used for day-to-day 

decision making by producers and land managers, and policy-related decisions by strategic 

decision-makers. The Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP) is 

a collaborative global effort to develop an ensemble crop yield estimation effort driven by the 

availability and use of weather data.

Figure 3: Portable ozone monitor with high quality 

PSD level meteorological station in background 

(Inigok, Alaska).

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

The interactions between genetics, environment (heavily focused on weather) and management 

practices (G x E x M) are under investigation as an approach to meeting the goals of sustainable 

agriculture as weather affects 1) the quantity and quality of desired yields, 2) the environment 

needed for agriculture and ecosystem services, 3) the economic viability of agriculture, and 4) 

the quality of life for rural populations and society as a whole. These goals are approached 

through a research strategy of: measure and understand, develop process-model prediction 

capacity, and then develop management technologies. Weather data and forecasting are integral 

to the research and applications of the research. 

It is essential that crops and livestock be able to withstand weather stresses and losses from 

insect and disease exacerbated by the impacts of weather variations. Thus, the development of 

new crop and livestock varieties is a foundation of ARS weather and climate research. The 

interaction of water and high temperatures are of special interest. 

The interactions of management systems and genetics are tempered by weather. ARS weather 

research is pursuing the hypothesis that the development of basic understandings and process 

models of the interacting effects of crop varieties with specific management practices adapted to 

weather means and extremes offers promise towards meeting the challenges of expanded food 

production for a growing world population.

The ARS Long Term Agro-ecosystem Research (LTAR) network is distributed geographically to 

provide a coordinated outdoor laboratory environment encompassing regional and local weather 

differences. The geographic diversity and the ability to obtain weather data and data on weatherdriven processes that can be compared over time and space are critically important strengths of 

the LTAR. Weather data are a foundation of LTAR measurements. ARS collaborates with 

domestic and international colleagues, including universities, NASA, NOAA, USGS, state and 

tribal organizations, and industry.

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AVIATION SERVICES

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

U.S. Code Title 49 Section 44720 (49 U.S.C. 44720) provides the basis for the Department of 

Commerce, through National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National 

Weather Service (NWS), to provide “meteorological services necessary for the safe and efficient 

movement of aircraft in air commerce” based on recommendations from Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA). Domestically, NWS is designated as the National Meteorological and 

Hydrological Service Provider and FAA is the United States designated Meteorological 

Authority for aviation weather services for the United States mission to the International Civil 

Aviation Organization (ICAO). The FAA is implicitly responsible for ensuring compliance with 

the services as defined and with maintaining ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices as 

specified in Annex 3, Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation.

The Department of Defense (DOD) service branches (U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine 

Corps), and the Department of Homeland Security service branch (Coast Guard) provide their 

own aviation weather support. Each military service has its own meteorological support 

personnel except the Army, which is supported by the Air Force. Please refer to the Military 

Services section for details of military-unique aviation weather services.

Interagency Collaborative Operational Products and Services

National Volcanic Ash Operations Plan for Aviation

Under the auspices of the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and 

Supporting Research (OFCM), the following agencies participate in the interagency Working 

Group for Volcanic Ash (WG/VA) and Committee for Aviation Services and Research (CASR): 

FAA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), NOAA, U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS), the U.S. Air Force, and the Smithsonian Institution. The WG/VA maintains the

National Volcanic Ash Operations Plan for Aviation. The purpose of the plan is to provide 

operational guidance by documenting the required procedures and information products of the 

government agencies responsible for ensuring safety of flight operations when volcanic ash has 

erupted into the atmosphere. This document also provides information on how the FAA, as the 

U.S. meteorological authority with regard to the ICAO, meets its obligations to the International 

For purposes of this Federal Plan, Aviation Services are those specialized meteorological services and 

facilities established to meet the requirements of general, commercial, and military aviation. Civil 

programs that are directly related to services solely for aviation and military programs in support of 

land-based aviation and medium- or long-range missile operations are included. Detailed aviation 

services/products for specific areas include, but are not limited to, ceiling and visibility, convective 

hazards, en route winds and temperatures, ground de-icing, in-flight icing, terminal winds and 

temperatures, turbulence, volcanic ash, and other airborne hazardous materials.

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

Airways Volcano Watch, which is sponsored by 

the ICAO. There are several regional plans in 

addition to the national plan. Regional plans are 

currently in place for Alaska, the Pacific 

Northwest (Washington, Oregon), and the 

Northern Marianas Islands (draft framework). 

Future plans are being developed for Hawaii, 

California, and Puerto Rico/Eastern Caribbean. 

These plans are available on the OFCM website at 

http://www.ofcm.gov. Regional plans typically 

also involve State and local agencies.

USGS. Through its five Volcano Observatories 

(Alaska, California, Cascades, Hawaiian, 

Yellowstone), the USGS is responsible for 

monitoring volcanoes in the United States and 

issuing notifications about volcanic activity at 

individual volcanoes. USGS Volcano 

Observatories use a combination of ground-based, 

airborne, and space-based techniques to interpret 

precursory unrest and forecast expected volcanic 

activity (including when eruptions are not 

expected). Notifications of eruptive activity from 

USGS monitoring activities are supplied to FAA 

and DOD to provide warnings for pilots and aircraft operators and to NOAA to aid in its 

forecasting and tracking of ash clouds. Because of the proximity of Alaskan volcanoes to busy 

North Pacific air routes, the USGS’s Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) has been and 

continues to be a world leader in the integration of volcano observatory operations with efforts 

by other agencies to mitigate the risk from airborne volcanic ash. USGS notifications and 

warnings about current volcanic activity throughout the United States are available to the public 

online at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/ and through a free email subscription service at 

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns/.

USGS works on a number of fronts with FAA, NOAA, and DOD, as well as with ICAO, to 

improve capabilities detect and warn of the presence of volcanic ash in flight routes, both 

domestic and international. USGS Volcano Observatory scientists participate in ICAO-led 

international exercises to practice coordinated response to an ash-producing eruption USGS has 

developed a display and analysis tool for accessing satellite data from a variety of sensors, which 

is being used collaboratively with NOAA’s Anchorage and Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory 

Centers to improve ash-cloud detection capabilities. USGS also has developed an ash dispersion 

and deposition model (called Ash3D) that provides ash fall forecasts to support the NWS in 

Alaska in its issuance of ash fall warnings for the public. 

Recognizing that many potentially dangerous volcanoes have inadequate or no ground-based 

monitoring, the USGS evaluated volcano-monitoring capabilities and published “An Assessment 

of Volcanic Threat and Monitoring Capabilities in the United States: Framework for a National 

Volcano Early Warning System (NVEWS)” (http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1164/). Results of the 

Figure 1: Volcanic ash hazards can be 

catastrophic to aviation operations.

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Aviation Services

NVEWS volcanic threat and monitoring assessment are being used to guide long-term 

improvements to the national volcano-monitoring infrastructure operated by the USGS and 

affiliated groups. The most threatening volcanoes—those near communities and transportation 

infrastructure (ground and air) and with a history of frequent and violent eruptions—need to be 

well monitored in real time with an extensive suite of instrument types to detect the earliest 

symptoms of unrest and to reliably forecast behavior of the volcano. Remote, isolated, or less 

frequently erupting volcanoes that nevertheless can pose hazards to air-traffic corridors require 

sufficient monitoring capability with ground-based instruments to detect and track unrest in real 

time so that other agencies responsible for en route flight safety can be reliably apprised of the 

potential for explosive, ash-cloud-forming eruptions.

NASA. Through its fleet of satellite assets, NASA is able to rapidly generate and broadly 

disseminate imagery and data products on the location, heights, and characteristics of ash plumes 

and related hazards. These data products fuel a range of research and applications investigations 

that enhance our knowledge of solid Earth processes, atmospheric transport and composition, 

and the impacts that volcanic eruptions have on the Earth system. Although NASA does not have 

operational responsibility for observation and analysis of volcanic gas and aerosol emissions, its 

fleet of research spacecraft provides data that are directly applicable to the societal hazards 

presented by these phenomena.

Figure 2: Sequence of CALIPSO 532 nm total attenuated backscatter curtains for 20 - 24 

June 2011, depicting the passage of the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcanic ash cloud (yellow) 

near 8-12 km (20,000-40,000ft) across a large area from north Antarctica to Southeast

Australia, Tasmania, and New-Zealand. The blue lines between the curtains illustrate 

forward model trajectories produced from the CALIPSO observations of the volcanic ash 

cloud. (Kurt Severance, NASA Langley Research Center)

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

NASA's Earth Science Division primarily operates five on-orbit sensors that monitor volcanic 

ash, gases, aerosols, and eruptions. The five sensors currently on orbit are the Cloud-Aerosol 

Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation satellite (CALIPSO), a joint mission between 

NASA and the French space agency CNES; the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI)—a 

contribution of the Netherlands's Agency for Aerospace Programs (NIVR) in collaboration with 

the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI)—onboard the Aura satellite; the Moderate Resolution 

Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard the Terra and Aqua satellites; and the Suomi 

National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) satellite with the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer 

Suite (VIIRS), Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) and the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite 

(OMPS) onboard. Suomi NPP is in partnership with NOAA. OMI and OMPS data, in which 

sulfate aerosol is used as a proxy for detecting volcanic ash, provide very accurate maps of the 

horizontal distribution of volcanic ash clouds, especially during the first several days following 

an eruption. Future NOAA Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES), will also deploy 

OMPS. In FY 2013, NASA began making CALIPSO Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal 

Polarization (CALIOP) data and products available in near-real time for operational use. These 

data have been demonstrated to be of particular utility for improving trajectory model forecasts 

of volcanic ash, validating the location of volcanic ash determined by forecast models, and 

resolving the vertical structure and layering of ash clouds. The 30-meter High-resolution imagers 

on the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection (ASTER) instrument from the 

NASA Terra spacecraft can also be scheduled on a limited basis, and NASA-built sensors on 

NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) and POES also support 

volcanic ash monitoring. The NASA Science Mission Directorate, Earth Science Division, 

Applied Sciences Program, Disaster Area is currently responsible for developing satellite data 

applications for volcanic ash and is focused on extending research in which the Agency has 

employed these satellite measurements to improve the accuracy of trajectory model forecasts to 

improve aerosol dispersion (ash concentration) model forecasts for the Volcanic Ash Advisory 

Centers (VAACS). In addition, the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) developed and began testing 

small, dedicated Dragon Eye Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in 2013 which penetrate volcanic 

plumes and coordinated these measurements with ASTER observations allowing scientists to 

compare sulfur dioxide concentration derived from the satellite with UAS measurements taken 

from within the plume. In 2014, scientists also began to deploy rapid response balloon teams to 

measure volcanic aerosol plume characteristics needed to calibrate satellite retrievals such as 

those taken by CALIPSO to extend forecast capabilities beyond trajectory mapping to be able to 

begin to accurately estimate the mass loading of volcanic plumes. The NASA Aeronautics 

Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) also conducts volcanic ash research. Its efforts primarily 

concern the NASA ARMD Fundamental Aeronautics Program’s Vehicle-Integrated Propulsion 

Research (VIPR) Project, which is a joint research project between NASA, USAF, USGS, FAA 

and the three largest engine manufacturers to determine propulsion system tolerances and 

thresholds for ingesting various concentrations of diffuse, persistent volcanic ash for increasing 

exposure periods. This purpose of this research is to improve the understanding of volcanic ash 

behavior and impacts in modern aircraft propulsion systems, to inform the development of 

operating procedures for operating in or near volcanic ash environments, and to develop 

improved aircraft engines and systems.

NOAA. NOAA/NWS is responsible for aviation-related volcanic ash forecasting services in the 

United States. The program is currently managed under the Aviation and Space Weather 

Services Branch at NWS Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. Although the main focus has 

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been and continues to be on the airborne ash hazards (mainly impacting aviation), there has been 

a move in the past several years to expand into an “all hazards” approach that incorporates both 

the NWS Public and Marine Services programs. The NWS is a co-lead in the development of 

regional volcanic ash response plans in the United States. Plans are currently in place for Alaska, 

the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon), and the Northern Marianas Islands. Future plans 

are being developed for Hawaii, California, and Puerto Rico/Eastern Caribbean. These plans are 

available on the OFCM website at http:/www.ofcm.gov. As noted earlier, NOAA/NWS also 

operates the Anchorage VAAC and partners with NESDIS, which operates the Washington 

VAAC—two of the nine such international centers.

NOAA/NESDIS is responsible for providing satellite data used in detecting and tracking 

volcanic ash in the atmosphere and is dedicated to providing timely access to global 

environmental data from satellites and other sources to promote, protect, and enhance the 

Nation's economy, security, environment, and quality of life. Many of the operational 

environmental satellites operated by NESDIS (see NOAA/NESDIS in Basic Services section) 

have channels available to help forecasters detect and track volcanic ash. The GOES-R and JPSS 

programs are joint NOAA-NASA programs that will provide more frequent, higher resolution 

imagery for the detection and tracking of volcanic ash beginning in 2015.

NOAA/OAR (Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research) Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) 

also participates to support NOAA’s volcanic ash services. ARL will be conducting research and 

development to improve the volcanic ash application of the ARL-developed HYSPLIT transport 

and dispersion model that is used by the NWS/NCEP to support the U.S. VAACs. In particular, 

ARL will work to (1) improve the quantification of the initial ash mass and its vertical 

distribution, (2) develop a model evaluation database, and (3) work with other VAACs to 

promote standardization of volcanic ash dispersion products. ARL will collaborate with scientists 

at the NESDIS Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) and the U.S. Geological 

Survey (USGS) Volcano Hazards Program. This work should lead to more globally harmonized 

dispersion guidance products and a better understanding of the dispersion model capabilities.

U.S. Air Force. Through its 2nd Weather Group at Offutt AFB, NE, the Air Force provides 

volcanic ash surveillance and analysis for DoD aviation operations worldwide. Analysts 

continuously monitor all active volcanoes, generating more than 3,500 bulletins per year. In 

addition to alert text bulletins, USAF products include tailored satellite imagery, and graphical 

ash plume forecasts detailing coverage and concentration. The USAF products ensure 

availability of information critical to DoD aviation, particularly outside the area covered by the 

Washington and Anchorage VAACs and when products from other international centers are not 

available. Additionally, the Air Force acts as the designated back-up for the Washington VAAC.

Smithsonian Institution, Natural History Museum, Global Volcanism Program (GVP). GVP 

collects, catalogs, and disseminates information on ~1,540 volcanoes active in the last 10,000 

years with a small staff working regular business hours Monday to Friday in the Natural History 

Museum in Washington, D.C. The aviation community most depends on GVP for volcano 

names, locations, summit elevations, and a set of unique volcano numbers (VNUM’s) for precise 

international communication about the source of eruptive plumes and related hazards. For 

example, Pacaya volcano in Guatemala (along the main approach to the Capital’s airport) is

designated on VAAC reports as “Volcano: Pacaya 342110.” The numbers, or unique portions 

thereof, also provide a short-hand for labeling closely spaced volcanoes on maps. Each month 

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GVP compiles the Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network

(http://volcano.si.edu/reports_bgvn.cfm) synthesizing information about volcano behavior, 

monitoring, and eruptions at variable time scales (months to years). The USGS and GVP jointly 

release the Weekly Volcano Activity Report summarizing eruptions and hazards during the 

preceding one-week interval (http://volcano.si.edu/reports_weekly.cfm). Both reports appear on 

the GVP website (http://www.volcano.si.edu), which also features photos, eruptive histories, and 

other information, including the current list of data needed by the aviation community.

NOAA/National Weather Service

NOAA/NWS aviation weather projects support increasing and improving observation 

capabilities, forecast products and techniques, outreach and training, operational adaptation of 

applied research, and verification of forecast products. These projects have the goal of 

supporting the FAA in the safe and efficient flow of air traffic in the National Airspace System 

(NAS). In response to requirements from the FAA and the international community, aviation 

weather products issued by NWS span the globe.

Under an international 

agreement through the ICAO, 

the United States meets its 

weather forecasting 

obligations to the aviation 

community through products 

and services of the World 

Area Forecast Center 

(WAFC) Washington, one of 

two global services, 

composed of two components 

of the National Centers for 

Environmental Prediction 

(NCEP): Aviation Weather 

Center (AWC), located in 

Kansas City, Missouri, and 

NCEP Central Operations 

(NCO) in College Park, 

Maryland. AWC prepares 

forecasts four times a day of 

globally significant 

thunderstorms, tropical 

cyclones, severe squall lines, 

moderate or severe 

turbulence and icing, and 

cumulonimbus clouds 

associated with these conditions. The forecast charts also include information on volcanic 

activity, radiological releases, jet streams, and tropopause heights. This information is made 

available by the WAFC Internet File Service (WIFS) to provide World Area Forecast System 

(WAFS) products and services, as defined by ICAO Annex 3, in an Internet web-based medium.

Figure 3: The Aviation Weather Center (AWC) has the responsibility, as 

part of the World Area Forecast Center, Washington, to provide global 

weather forecasts of significant weather phenomena. Presently, the AWC 

produces these High Level Significant Weather charts covering two 

thirds of the globe, both northern and southern hemispheres that are 

issued four times a day.

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The AWC, along with the NWS Alaska Region’s Alaska Aviation Weather Unit (AAWU) and 

the NWS Weather Forecast Office (WFO) in Honolulu, Hawaii, provides wind, temperature, and 

flight hazard (e.g., icing and turbulence) forecasts for flight planning and en route aircraft 

operations for the United States, the north Atlantic and north Pacific routes, and some routes in 

the southern hemisphere. This information is disseminated by AWC via WIFS in support of the 

WAFS for ICAO aviation data needs and in support of World Meteorological Organization 

(WMO) Region IV (North America) data exchange requirements.

Under agreement with the FAA, four AWC meteorologists at the FAA Air Traffic Control 

System Command Center (ATCSCC) in Warrenton, Virginia, provide decision support services 

for strategic planning and traffic flow management for the NAS. These meteorologists work 

collaboratively with the AWC, the CWSUs, and with FAA planners and the aviation industry to 

identify and mitigate airspace constraints caused by weather, from several days out to immediate 

weather impacts.

Also under an agreement with the FAA, NWS meteorologists are assigned to Center Weather 

Service Units (CWSUs) located in each of the 21 FAA Air Route Traffic Control Centers 

(ARTCCs). The CWSUs are currently staffed by 84 NWS meteorologists (4 at each of the 21 

ARTCCs) to provide real-time support and decision assistance concerning weather impacts on 

air traffic. In addition to supporting the ARTCCs, the CWSUs provide meteorological support to 

en route centers, Terminal Radar Approach Control facilities, and airport towers. Because 

CWSU forecast support is embedded within the aviation mission, meteorologists can focus on 

specific customer needs. In one example, a specialized marine stratus display system was 

developed to address the difficult issue of fog formation and dissipation in the San Francisco Bay 

Area. The San Francisco stratus system is used operationally by the CWSU meteorologist, WFO 

aviation forecaster, FAA traffic managers, and airline meteorologists.

To operationally support the needs of aviation users today, the NWS WFOs prepare Terminal 

Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs) up to eight times daily, with amendments as needed, for more than 

660 public-use airports in the United States and its territories in the Caribbean and Pacific.

Thus NOAA, through three NWS Meteorological Watch Offices (MWO) and the two VAACs, 

provides large-scale, global aviation functions that can be sensibly centralized, while the NWS 

WFOs and CWSUs discharge local aviation functions. Additionally, NCO supplies global 

gridded model data of temperature, winds, and humidity twice daily for flight levels from 5,000 

to 45,000 feet.

NOAA funds initiatives designed to improve the delivery of aviation weather information to 

NAS users. These initiatives include training programs to enhance forecaster effectiveness and 

development of products to improve weather information availability to the aviation community. 

NWS’s Science and Technology Integration (STI) portfolio funds development and 

implementation of improvements to accuracy and accessibility of aviation weather information, 

aimed at meeting the goals of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).

AviationWeather.gov

In addition to satisfying global requirements for aviation weather, AWC hosts 

AviationWeather.gov, which makes available to the aviation community text, digital, and 

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graphical forecasts, analyses, and observations of aviation-related weather variables. 

AviationWeather.gov also serves as a platform for aviation weather products emerging from the 

FAA Aviation Weather Research Program and transitioning to operations. It has become an 

invaluable resource to users, especially in the U.S. general aviation community. The AWC’s 

website infrastructure provides increased levels of data reliability for users.

Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers (VAAC)

The United States, in agreement with ICAO, operates two VAACs as entities within NOAA. One 

of these, the Anchorage VAAC, is part of the AAWU located in Anchorage, Alaska, and works 

closely with the Alaska Volcano Observatory. The second VAAC, which is part of NOAA’s 

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) and NCEP, is located 

in College Park, Maryland. The VAACs monitor volcanic activity through satellite remote 

sensing, provide initial notification of a volcanic eruption upon detection, and forecast volcanic 

ash plume movement and evolution.

NWS International Obligations

National Weather Service meets international commitments through participation as consultants 

to FAA in ICAO groups, ad hoc task forces, and project teams. In addition, NWS leads or 

participates in a number of WMO teams chartered by the WMO Commission on Aeronautical 

Meteorology. These teams include the Expert Team (ET) on Governance and Partnership (lead); 

the ET on Meteorological Services for Air Traffic Management (ATM) and Meteorological 

Information Exchange, which partners with ICAO’s MARIE-PT; and the ET for Education, 

Training, and Competencies.

Federal Aviation Administration

Timely and accurate weather observations and forecasts are essential to aviation safety and 

making the best use of aviation capacity. Pilots need to know the direction and speed of winds 

aloft in order to take advantage of tailwinds and minimize the effect of headwinds. They also 

need to know if there will be obstructions to visibility that restrict landings at their destination 

airport, and whether the runway is wet or dry and how that will affect braking action. Traffic 

flow managers and pilots use weather observations and forecasts to determine when they need to 

plan alternative routes to avoid severe weather. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has 

the responsibility to collect and distribute aviation weather data – particularly hazardous weather 

to operators, pilots, and air traffic control and management.

Weather Systems

The FAA employs two categories of weather systems: weather sensors and weather 

processing/dissemination systems. FAA weather sensors include weather radars and automated 

surface observation systems that measure atmospheric parameters, such as surface temperature, 

prevailing wind speed and direction, relative humidity, cloud bases and tops, as well as wind 

shear and microbursts. These weather sensors provide real-time information to FAA weather 

processing/dissemination systems and to NWS centralized weather forecasting models. Weather 

processing systems organize, process, and distribute the sensor’s observed data, matched with 

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forecasts, and blends National Airspace System (NAS) operations with weather information. 

Data from multiple sensors feed numerical forecast model ensembles whose output can be 

disseminated and integrated in national and local processing systems to interpret broad weather 

trends affecting aviation operations. This information is then sent to air traffic controllers, traffic 

flow managers, dispatchers, and pilots in a seamless suite of weather tools that look backwards 

and forwards in time and along terminals, intended flight paths, flow corridors, sectors, and 

regions.

Weather Sensors

Weather sensors consist of a long range Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD), WindShear Detection Services (WSDS) and the Automated Surface Weather Observation Network 

(ASWON) portfolio programs.

Next Generation Weather Radar

Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) is a long-range weather radar system that detects, 

analyzes, and transmits weather information for use by the ATC System Command Center, en 

route, terminal and flight service facilities. NEXRAD was developed under a joint program of 

the Department of Commerce (DOC)/NWS, Department of Defense (DOD), and the Department 

of Transportation (DOT)/FAA. NEXRAD radars are national critical assets that indirectly 

support most weather information users in the United States. These 160 systems are long-range, 

Doppler weather radars that detect and produce long-range and high-altitude weather observation 

products and special products, including three-dimensional areas of precipitation by type, cloud 

cover by height, storm cells, winds aloft, turbulence, and icing. NEXRAD products and services 

are processed by FAA weather processing systems (discussed in next section). NEXRAD 

mosaics are used by en route and oceanic controllers to aid pilots in avoiding hazardous weather.

The NEXRAD Dual Polarization modification project has been deployed at all sites, and

software improvements to further exploit this extensive weather capability are under 

development.

Dual Polarization is an important upgrade to NEXRAD that improves detection of rain/snow 

mix, in-flight icing, hail, and non-weather biological targets (bird strike concerns). It is expected 

to improve the forecasting of areas where in-flight icing will occur. Working with partner 

agencies, the NWS is investigating whether to incorporate planned long-range NEXRAD 

capabilities into the NSWRC. 

Several major NEXRAD system components have reached their expected service life. They will 

undergo a service life extension upgrade or refurbishment over the next several years to extend 

NEXRAD system life to at least 2030.

Wind Shear Detection Services

The Wind Shear Detection Services (WSDS) portfolio includes the Terminal Doppler Weather 

Radar (TDWR), the Weather System Processor (WSP), and Low-level Windshear Alert System 

(LLWAS). These systems automatically detect wind shear conditions near runways and 

approach/departure corridors and provide data to FAA weather processing systems to alert 

controllers, who can then warn pilots of gust fronts and wind shear in the vicinity of the airport. 

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WSDS Work Package 1 (WP1) will address obsolescence of the legacy WSP and LLWAS to 

ensure that Air Traffic Controllers will continue to receive the wind shear alerts necessary to 

maintain the safety of the NAS. Since these systems have been deployed, no major windshearrelated incidents have occurred in the NAS.

Terminal Doppler Weather Radar

The most sophisticated windshear detection system is the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar 

(TDWR). The primary mission of the TDWR is to enhance the safety of air travel through timely 

detection and reporting of hazardous weather conditions including windshear events, microburst, 

gust fronts, and thunderstorms in and near an 

airport's terminal approach and departure zones. 

There are 45 operational TDWRs serving 46 highdensity airports with the most risk of windshear 

exposure. Using a three-dimensional pencil beam 

and fast update rate, TDWR produce detailed 

weather information across the entire terminal area 

at the surface and aloft throughout terminal airspace 

to controllers so they can issue warnings to pilots. 

TDWR weather data is transmitted to FAA 

automation systems. TDWR’s unique products 

include high-resolution, rapid update of storm cells 

with height, precipitation, surface winds, windshear, 

etc. Activities are underway to address sustainment 

of the TDWR and the FAA is investigating whether 

to incorporate the TDWR functions into the 

NextGen Surveillance and Weather Radar 

Capability (NSWRC).

Weather System Processor 

The Weather System Processor (WSP )is an add-on 

weather processor enhancement to the Airport 

Surveillance Radar (ASR) Model 9 (ASR-9). The WSP was implemented as a low-cost, highquality, wind shear detection system at medium and higher air traffic density airports not 

equipped with the TDWR. The WSP 

provides advanced Doppler weather 

radar performance with all the 

functions of the TDWR. The WSP is 

partitioned to the front-end radar 

(ASR) modification, and the backend (WSP) development. WSP is 

deployed at 34 airports throughout 

the NAS. WSP detects and alerts on 

microbursts and wind shear, predicts 

arrival of gust fronts, and shows 

precipitation intensity on a graphical situation display for use by ATC without further 

Figure 4: A Terminal Doppler Weather Radar

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meteorological interpretation. Activities are underway to address sustainment of these radars and 

the FAA is investigating whether to incorporate the WSP into the NSWRC. 

Low Level Wind Shear Alert System (LLWAS)

LLWAS uses an array of wind sensors located around the runway thresholds and along 

approach/departure corridors to measure surface wind direction and velocity. LLWAS compares 

wind velocity and direction, detected across the airport operations area, to determine whether 

hazardous wind shear events are occurring at, or near, the runways. LLWAS interfaces with 

TDWR and WSP at higher density airports where the systems are co-located, or operates as a 

stand- alone system at other airports that do not have a TDWR or WSP. There are 49 LLWAS 

systems operational in the NAS today, which are undergoing service life extensions. The FAA is 

investigating whether to incorporate the functionality of these sensors into the NSWRC.

Automated Surface Weather Observation Network (ASWON)

The ASWON portfolio includes a numbeer of surface sensors: Automated Weather Observing 

System (AWOS), Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS), Automated Weather Sensor 

Systems (AWSS), Stand Alone Weather Sensing (SAWS), Digital Altimeter Setting Indicator 

(DASI), Wind Equipment F-Series (WEF) Wind System, and AWOS Data Acquisition System 

(ADAS). These sensors measure weather parameters on the surface and report conditions to air 

traffic facilities and pilots. The terminal data they collect is important to pilots and dispatchers as 

they prepare and file flight plans. The overall surface data they collectively provide is vital for 

weather forecasting. Some elements of the ASWON portfolio are undergoing a technical refresh 

to keep these systems operating reliably.

Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS)

The ASOS, and other variants, such as the AWOS, AWSS and the SAWS system, have up to 14 

individual sensors that measure surface weather data, including temperature, barometric 

pressure, humidity, type and amount of precipitation, cloud bases and amount of sky cover. 

These systems feed data directly to local air traffic control facilities and support automated 

broadcast of weather information to pilots and flight planning. They also provide regular, rapid 

updates for the NWS forecast models that predict future weather conditions including adverse 

weather. A technical refresh is underway to keep these systems operating reliably. AWSS and 

AWOS systems will become AWOS Model-C (AWOS-C) after technology refresh is completed, 

and AWOS-C will be a primary surface weather sensor system along with ASOS in the NAS. As 

a part of on-gong technology refresh WEF and WME single wind sensor systems with C&G 

DASI will be replaced with the Surface Weather System (SWS). The SWS is functionally 

equivalent to SAWS and will be the backup surface weather observing system. At the end of 

current ASWON technology refresh there will be approximately 230 AWOS-C systems and 227 

SWS systems in the NAS.

Digital Altimeter Setting Indicator (DASI)

The Digital Altimeter Setting Indicator (DASI) is a system that measures the atmospheric 

pressure and converts the measured pressure value into the actual sea level pressure based on the 

United States (U.S.) Standard Atmosphere. The value computed is known as the Altimeter 

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Setting Indicator (ASI) value and is presented to the Air Traffic personnel in a digital format, e.g. 

29.98, so they can inform pilots of the proper setting so the aircraft’s altimeter will read the 

correct runway elevation at touchdown. The local DASI display panels provide a five-digit 

display of altimeter setting that is viewed on the Light Emitting Diode (LED) readout on the 

front. A keypad (or other means) on the unit enables the station altitude and a correction factor 

(if needed) to be entered into the system manually. Up to 10 remote displays may be 

accommodated.

AWOS Data Acquisition System (ADAS)

The ADAS is an automation system that collects, processes, generates, disseminates, and 

archives various surface observation weather products from over 1100 Federal ASOS, AWOS 

and AWSS locations in the CONUS, Alaska and Hawaii. In addition, under the purview of the 

FAA's Automated Lightning Detection and Reporting System (ALDARS) contract, ADAS 

receives cloud-to-ground lightning strike (latitude and longitude) information for the CONUS, 

Hawaii and Alaska from a commercial lightning data service provider to disseminate back to the 

weather observing systems. In addition, this lightning data is also sent to WMSCR for 

subsequent dissemination to authorized FAA systems.

ADAS consists of the Sensor Control System (SCS) components located at every ARTCC and 

primary/secondary centralized management and control (Regional ADAS Service Processor 

(RASP)) components located at both Network Enterprise Management Center locations, in Salt 

Lake City and Atlanta. The RASP connects to every SCS over the operational Federal 

Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) network providing centralized network management 

and control, and it also provides the interface to the (external) commercial lightning data service 

provider supplying the lightning strike data to the SCS for subsequent processing 

The ARTCC-based SCS provides the interface to the various types of weather observing systems 

in order to receive the binary-formatted One-Minute Observations (OMO), the text based 

Standard Hydro-meteorological Exchange Format (SHEF) and the Daily, Monthly Summary 

Reports. In addition, most of these systems also provide the key weather product - the Aviation 

Routine Weather Report (aka METAR). However, since there are over 150 legacy AWOS 

systems that are unable to generate the METAR, the SCS generates the METAR on their behalf. 

The SCS routes these various weather products to WMSCR for dissemination to other NAS and 

non-NAS users. The SCS also provides network management capabilities to the local ARTCC 

personnel and also connects to the local Remote Monitoring and Logging System (RMLS) for 

status reporting. The SCS is also responsible for receiving the lightning strike information from 

the RASP and generating location-specific lightning activity messages to every locallyconnected ASOS, AWOS and AWSS. These weather observing system include this lightning 

activity information into its OMO and METAR reports as well as making this information 

available to other local systems and through its VHF radio broadcasts. Some non-Federal AWOS 

are connected to WMSCR through FAA approved service providers. Only AWOS-III and IV are 

eligible for connection. They do not use ADAS.

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Observations

Liquid Water Equivalent (LWE) Rate Measurement & Reporting-Surface

Snow/ Ice

At airports in cold climates, a ground anti-icing/de-icing program is an essential pre-takeoff 

service. Decision making in a ground anti-icing/deicing program is the responsibility of the pilot. 

Pilots need to have the most accurate airport weather observation information available to 

support their ground anti-icing/deicing program decisions. Recent weather research has provided 

compelling evidence that snow precipitation intensity, which is currently determined by a 

visibility-based method, can be more accurately determined by measuring the LWE rate and 

providing this information as part of the airport weather observation. Pilots can use this enhanced 

information to more accurately determine their hold-over times. To capitalize on the federal 

government’s investment in ASOS, a cost effective way to provide this LWE rate capability is to 

implement it in ASOS. The FAA is currently pursuing ways to provide this capability in ASOS. 

This improvement will enhance aircraft and passenger safety and support traffic flow 

management. The FAA is also pursuing development of a commercial LWE Rate System.

Weather Processing Systems 

Integrated Terminal Weather System (ITWS)

ITWS generates automated weather products such as windshear alerts, gust front predictions (up 

to 20 minutes into future), storm cell intensity and direction of motion, terminal lightning 

information, detailed winds in the terminal area, and a one-hour storm forecast. ITWS receives 

weather data from 

automated surface 

observing sensors (ASOS 

and ADAS) and 

surrounding radars, 

(TDWR, ASR-9, ASR-11, 

and NEXRAD) and 

bundles it with NWS 

forecasts and value-added 

algorithms such as 

windshear prediction to 

provide real-time aviation 

weather information for 

terminal control facilities 

and pilots. Tower and 

Terminal Radar Approach 

Control (TRACON) controllers use the information to make more precise estimates of when 

runways should be closed and subsequently reopened. They also use the information to plan for 

efficient switches in terminal arrival patterns, which avoids inefficient maneuvering on taxi ways 

and on approach and departure, to accommodate a runway direction change as aircraft approach 

an airport. There are 34 ITWS Product Generators in-service at over one hundred sites (Air 

Traffic Control (ATC) Towers, TRACONs, Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs) and 

Figure 5: Example of ITWS Weather Products

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the Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) providing common aviation 

weather information to 75 major airports. The FAA is targeting to implement the ITWS 

functionality in a NextGen Weather Processor (NWP) work package.

Corridor Integrated Weather System (CIWS)

CIWS gathers weather information along the busiest air traffic corridors to help air traffic 

specialists select the most efficient routes when they must divert traffic to avoid severe weather 

conditions. CIWS gathers convective weather information from radar and satellite images, 

blending it with NWS model data to provide an extrapolation of storm position and intensity 2 

hours into the future. This process widens the common weather picture in between major 

metropolitan areas and expands en route weather situational awareness along busy jet-ways and 

air traffic corridors to help air traffic specialists select the most efficient routes when they must 

divert traffic flows to avoid severe weather conditions. CIWS has added a winter weather mode, 

convective initiation, and two-hour look-ahead aviation product to help pilots and flow managers 

better decide whether to fly over or around storms. The FAA is targeting to implement the CIWS 

functionality into the NWP.

Weather and Radar Processor (WARP)

WARP provides NEXRAD precipitation intensity data to controllers’ displays. WARP compiles 

information from many FAA, NWS, and commercial weather sources for integrated display to 

ARTCC Traffic Management Unit (TMU) supervisors, sector controller’s briefing terminals, 

NAS operators of En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM), Advanced Technologies & 

Oceanic Procedures (ATOP), Dynamic Ocean Tracking System (DOTS), Alaska Flight Data 

Processor 2000 (FDP2K), and other automation/display systems and web users. WARP serves as 

a one-stop source for weather interpretation by the CWSU forecasting stations. WARP 

sustainment activities are underway and the WARP mosaic change is targeted to complete in 

2015. The FAA is targeting to incorporate WARP functionality into the Common Support 

Services – Weather (CSS-Wx) and the NWP.

Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS)

The Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS), hosted by NOAA on AviationWeather.gov, makes 

available to the aviation community text, digital and graphical forecasts, analyses, and 

observations of aviation-related weather variables. ADDS is a joint effort of the Federal Aviation 

Administration and the NOAA NCEP Aviation Weather Center (AWC).

The success of ADDS (averaged over 23 million hits a day in 2014) has allowed the FAA to 

showcase several important research initiatives, including the Current and Forecast Icing 

Products, the Graphical Turbulence Guidance, and the National Ceiling and Visibility Analysis. 

It is important to note that these products have been through thorough technical reviews and 

safety risk assessments before release on ADDS as operational products. Operational ADDS runs 

at the AWC in Kansas City, MO.

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Weather Message Switching Center Replacement (WMSCR)

The WMSCR system consists of two redundant servers located in the Network Enterprise 

Management Center (NEMC) locations in Atlanta (ATL), Georgia and Salt Lake City (SLC), 

Utah. These two servers operate in a primary/backup mode, where either server can provide 

weather and NOTAM information to all WMSCR users. These WMSCR servers connect to the 

NAS operational IP network and have the necessary infrastructure to support connectivity to 

non-NAS users via the NAS Enterprise Security Gateways. WMSCR also has deployed ServiceOriented Architecture (SOA) infrastructure to provide publication and subscription services of 

Pilot Report (PIREP) and Altimeter Setting reports via SWIM. 

WMSCR receives, processes, and stores numerous text-formatted aviation weather products 

(such as Surface Observations (METARs/SPECIs), PIREPS, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, TAFs, etc.) 

as well as relaying the binary-formatted OMO and lightning products from ADAS, and 

disseminates these products to a variety of NAS and non-NAS users. WMSCR is a principal 

gateway to the National Weather Service (NWS), the military and foreign countries for the 

exchange of alphanumeric weather data. 

WMSCR is also the FAA collection point for the receipt METARs sent in by authorized NonFederal AWOS service providers for some 1000+ non-Federal AWOS locations in the CONUS, 

and oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Note that WNSCR is a major FAA distribution system 

for NOTAMs from the US NOTAM System (USNS). However this service/capability will be 

discontinued when USNS is replaced by Federal NOTAM System (FNS). WMSCR functionality 

will be incorporated into a future upgrade of CSS-Wx.

Weather Camera Program

The primary goal of the FAA Aviation Weather Camera (AWC) Program is to improve aviation 

safety and efficiencies by providing current visual weather information in the form of near realtime video camera images to aviation users in Alaska. The camera images are designated as an 

FAA supplementary weather product used for enhanced situational awareness and the images are 

made available free on the public website at http://avcams.faa.gov. The camera images provide 

pilots, dispatchers and Flight Service Station Specialists with up-to-date weather conditions at 

airports, mountain passes, and other strategic Visual Flight Rules (VFR) locations and enables 

them to make better informed decisions about whether or not it is safe to fly before becoming 

airborne. It provides pilots with the ability to “look before you fly” as opposed to the age-old 

procedure “fly out to take a look”. New capability increases pilot situational awareness, enhances 

pilot flight decisions and when combined with other available weather information products, 

such as METARs, weather camera images become a powerful "go or no-go" aeronautical flight 

decision tool. 

With the known benefits of the camera systems and the low costs of its operation there is a high 

level of interest to expand the service to the remainder of the NAS where shortfalls in weather 

related aviation safety and efficiencies are known or suspected. Past and ongoing aviation studies 

have identified additional safety and efficiency shortfalls in areas of the contiguous United States 

and Hawaii where safety and efficiency shortfalls are identified. Studies conducted by the FAA 

office of Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS), and other FAA offices 

support the fact that weather cameras may be beneficial to aviation safety. In August 2013, the 

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NTSB publically recognized the safety benefits of the weather camera system in Alaska and has 

forwarded a request to the FAA to install and maintain camera systems in Hawaii and the 

contiguous United States where cameras can address identified weather-related aviation 

accidents and safety shortfalls. 

Flight Services 

Flight Services collects and disseminates aeronautical and meteorological information, providing 

customized pre-flight and in-flight briefings to domestic and international general aviation 

communities, as well as to the military and commercial air carriers throughout the contiguous 

United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Alaska. These services are provided by flight service 

specialists to pilots via phone or radio, or pilots can access the information directly through 

online (internet-based) web portals. Flight service specialists interpret weather and aeronautical 

data to provide pilot weather briefings and flight planning services tailored for a particular flight.

Alternatively, pilots accessing preflight information directly through a web portal are responsible 

for interpreting the weather and aeronautical information for their flight.

The FAA delivers these services through the following combination of contract vehicles and 

automation systems: Operational and Supportability Implementation System (OASIS), Flight 

Services for the 21st Century (FS21), and Direct User Access Terminal Service (DUATS).

Operational and Supportability Implementation System (OASIS) 

OASIS is a flight service automation system operational at the 17 Flight Service Stations in 

Alaska since 2007 and is owned and supported by Harris Corporation. FAA Air Traffic Control 

Specialists operate OASIS and site level maintenance is performed by FAA Technical 

Operations personnel. OASIS provides integrated textual and weather graphics products, flight 

plan processing, emergency services, law enforcement, flight planning and regulatory 

information and other services as defined in FAA Joint Order (JO) 7110.10.

Flight Services for the 21st Century (FS21) 

FS21 is the automation system operational at five Flight Service Stations located in CONUS 

operated by Lockheed Martin Corporation under the FAA’s Automated Flight Service Station 

(AFSS) contract. The contract provides flight services to pilots throughout CONUS, Hawaii, and 

Puerto Rico. Lockheed Martin flight service specialists operate FS21 and are FAA-certified pilot 

weather briefers. FS21 provides integrated text and graphical weather products, flight planning 

and flight plan processing, emergency services, law enforcement, flight planning and regulatory 

information, and other services as defined in FAA JO 7110.10.

Direct User Access Terminal Service (DUATS)

DUATS is an internet-based weather/aeronautical information and flight plan filing service that 

allows pilots to access information on-line to plan a flight, file a flight plan, and perform a selfbrief without the aid of a Flight Service Specialist. The FAA contracts for this service with two 

separate vendors: Data Transformation Corporation (DTC) and Computer Sciences Corporation 

(CSC). DUATS provides aviation weather in both text (alphanumeric) and graphical formats 

according to standards defined in FAA JO 7110.10.

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Contract Weather Observer (CWO) Program

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) created the Contract Weather Observer program 

in 1995, for the FAA and NWS to provide oversight and program management activities. As of 

October 1, 2013, NWS transferred responsibility for training oversight, certification, and facility 

inspection of Limited Aviation Weather Reporting Stations (LAWRS), CWOs, and non-Federal 

Weather Observers (NF-OBS), to the FAA. The FAA continues to provide backup and 

augmentation to the ASOS and the NWS provide maintenance of the ASOS program. 

In February 1996, a Service Standards Policy was developed and implemented by the FAA, 

NWS, and industry representatives for airports having an operational ASOS. The FAA then 

assumed sole responsibility for providing program management and supplying operational 

certified CWOs to provide backup and augmentation of the ASOS at Service Level A and B 

airports. At Service Level C airports, the FAA uses Air Traffic Control personnel to perform 

LAWRS duties, which provide backup for the ASOS.

Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen)

NextGen is an umbrella term for the ongoing, wide-ranging transformation of the United States' 

NAS to ensure that future safety, capacity and environmental needs are met. NextGen will 

fundamentally change the way air traffic is managed by combining new technologies for 

surveillance, navigation, and communications with workforce training, procedural changes, and 

airfield development. 

NextGen requires efficient consolidation of large volumes of weather observations and forecast 

information for processing, dissemination, and integration into decision support system 

algorithms to produce the more sophisticated aviation weather products of how weather will 

impact NAS operations. NextGen core technologies will allow introduction of new NextGen 

operational improvements. Efforts under NextGen include: CSS-Wx, NextGen Weather 

Processor (NWP), ATM-Weather Integration Concepts, and NextGen Surface Observing 

Capability.

Common Support Services – Weather (CSS-Wx)

In conjunction with the deployment of the System Wide Information Management (SWIM) 

Enterprise Service, a common information publishing capability will be deployed that will 

include a first offering of aviation weather information. This subsumes the major functions 

ascribed to NextGen Networked Enabled Weather (NNEW) and will, over time, include 

additional information types – aeronautical information, flight information – as these move to 

new information protocols and formats. CSS-Wx extends the SWIM core services, and is being 

developed to enhance the collection and dissemination of aviation weather information and 

provide access to all users throughout the NAS. The FAA is currently in the solution 

development phase of the CSS-Wx program.

NextGen Weather Processor (NWP)

The NWP establishes a common weather processing platform that will enable the consolidation 

of the legacy FAA aviation weather processor systems and host new capabilities. As input, NWP 

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uses information such as FAA and NOAA radar and sensors and NOAA forecast models. NWP 

will use sophisticated algorithms to create aviation-specific current and predicted weather, 

requiring no meteorological interpretation, for publishing via CSS-Wx. It will perform Weather 

Translation, which will enable the use of automated objective weather constraint information by 

decision-makers and Decision-Support Tools (DST). The FAA is currently in the solution 

development phase of the NWP.

ATM-Weather Integration Concepts

Currently NAS weather data is not well integrated into either manual procedures or automated 

decision-support systems. To support the predicted volume of future air traffic operations, 

improvements are needed. Unpredicted changes in weather are prime concerns because of the 

significant impact and disruption they create throughout the entire NAS. The current system does 

not respond well to unpredicted weather situations or to weather conditions that evolve 

differently than expected. This effort will address required improvements to support proactive 

planning operations rather than adjusting for impacts after the weather has changed. Activities in 

2015 include technical studies for improvements to aviation weather information integration, 

transitioning an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)-compliant Quality 

Management System (QMS) to operations, and harmonization of aviation weather requirements 

with the international community.

FAA International Obligations

The FAA is the Meteorological Authority for the U.S. and establishes the requirements for 

meteorological services provided by the NWS to support international air navigation, as required 

by ICAO’s Annex 3, Meteorological Services for International Air Navigation. As part of the 

requirements process the FAA, as a member of several ICAO meteorological groups, represents 

U.S. interests and strives for global harmonization of meteorological products and services. The 

FAA represents the Unites States on ICAO’s World Area Forecast System Operations Group, 

ICAO’s International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group, ICAO’s Aerodrome 

Meteorological Observation and Forecast Study Group, ICAO’s Meteorological Warnings Study 

Group, and ICAO’s Meteorological Aeronautical Requirements and Information Exchange 

Project Team.

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

The National Airspace System of the Future

To address the growing demands on the NAS for the future, the 108th Congress and the George 

W. Bush Administration promulgated and signed into law VISION 100 Century of Aviation 

Reauthorization Act (P.L. 108-176). The Vision 100 Act calls for an integrated, multi-agency 

plan to transform the nation’s air transportation system to meet the needs of the year 2025 and 

beyond, while providing substantial near-term benefits. The resulting Next Generation Air 

Transportation System (NextGen) initiative addresses critical safety and economic needs in civil 

aviation, while fully integrating national defense and homeland security improvements into the 

future NAS.

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NextGen weather development activities will contribute to: (1) Expanded Capacity by providing 

air traffic managers the ability to better plan for predicted weather impacts on air travel, thus 

maximizing air space usage and optimizing flight routes; (2) Improved Safety by providing pilots 

and air traffic managers the ability to better assess and avoid hazards to air travel, such as severe 

turbulence, and (3) Protection of the Environment by enabling flight route optimization on the 

ground and in the air, thereby avoiding ground delays or holding patterns that require 

unnecessary jet fuel expenditure.

FAA Interagency Planning Office (IPO)

Through its 2nd Weather Group at Offutt AFB, NE, the Air Force provides volcanic ash 

surveillance and analysis for DoD aviation operations worldwide. Analysts continuously monitor 

all active volcanoes, generating more than 3,500 bulletins per year. In addition to alert text 

bulletins, USAF products include tailored satellite imagery, and graphical ash plume forecasts 

detailing coverage and concentration. The USAF products ensure availability of information 

critical to DoD aviation, particularly outside the area covered by the Washington and Anchorage 

VAACs and when products from other international centers are not available. Additionally, the 

Air Force acts as the designated back-up for the Washington VAAC.

FAA NextGen Office

Two principal FAA entities that report to the Assistant Administrator for NextGen are focused 

upon implementation of NextGen: the NAS Lifecycle Planning Division and the Aviation 

Weather Division (AWD) under the Office of Portfolio Management and Technology 

Development. The role of the NAS Lifecycle Planning Division is to ensure that the plans for the 

several NextGen strategic thrusts, called NextGen Portfolios, are coordinated and integrated for 

efficient near- and medium-term implementation across the FAA. This includes the NextGen 

Weather research and development as pre-implementation activities in the NAS Infrastructure 

Portfolio. Common Support Services-Weather (CSS-Wx), discussed earlier, is a transformational 

program that will address weather dissemination within the Air Navigation Service Provider 

infrastructure. NextGen Weather pre-implementation is focused on improving weather 

observations, weather forecasts, and operational decisions based upon that improved weather 

information by integrating it into manual and automated decision support tools in the NAS. In 

addition to working with the AWD, this portfolio coordinates the investment analysis and 

acquisition of new weather systems and services within the FAA’s Aviation Weather Services 

Directorate (AWSD), NOAA/NWS, and other agencies.

FAA AWG and AWSD Roles in NextGen Transition

The AWSD and AWD have important roles in the transition from today’s aviation weather 

services to future CSS-Wx and NextGen weather forecast improvements, and other NextGen 

Weather Processing capabilities, as the FAA moves from air traffic control to air traffic 

management (ATM). In the NextGen system, most communications will occur as digital data, 

much of it transferred directly from computer to computer. Relevant information will be shared 

easily among system users through network-enabled information access.

The AWSD develops mission need and investment analysis for initial investment decisions for 

FAA aviation weather sensors, forecasting capability, dissemination systems, and integration of 

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improved weather capability into the NAS. The development of NAS weather requirements are 

essential artifact of the following NextGen documents: the Weather Concept of Operations, the 

Mission Needs Statement for Weather (MNS-339), the Preliminary Portfolio Requirements, and 

the Final Portfolio Requirements. The requirements work in this program feeds later-stage 

activities, as defined by the FAA Acquisition Management System (AMS) lifecycle, of the NAS 

Infrastructure portfolio.

The AWD focus on NextGen is described below and includes collaboration with Single 

European Sky ATM Research (SESAR), with ICAO for advanced aviation weather standards, 

and with all the U.S. agencies involved in NextGen. This work addresses the high cost of 

weather to today’s NAS, where weather is responsible for 70 percent of delays over 15 minutes 

and contributes to 24 percent of accidents and 34 percent of fatalities. Up to two-thirds of 

weather delays are avoidable, but despite a continuous flow of improvements available through 

aviation weather science and implementation solutions aimed at providing better weather 

information, weather continues to have significant impacts on aviation costs and safety. The 

purposes of this program are to reduce the number of weather-related aviation accidents; reduce 

aviation flight delays, diversions, and cancellations; improve the operational efficiency of the 

NAS; and harmonize ICAO standard with U.S. practices in aviation weather.

The NextGen program in AWD is composed of three elements:

1. The Concept Identification and Development component generates, analyzes, manages, 

allocates, and validates requirements in the NextGen aviation weather portfolio. It focuses on 

the early stages of requirements from their inception/generation to the investment analysis 

and subsequent requirements decision. It develops transformational (NextGen mid-term and 

far-term capabilities), as well as evolutionary requirements (NextGen near-term capabilities). 

It formulates agreements between government and industry stakeholders on policies needed 

to meet requirements for airborne weather observations, including cost sharing, data access 

and distribution, data reporting frequency, aircraft equipage, and other technical issues. 

Finally, this program develops policies necessary for the allocation of roles and 

responsibilities in the provision of weather state information to meet requirements and U.S. 

commitments to ICAO. 

2. The Global Harmonization component carries out FAA’s role as the U.S. Meteorological 

Authority to ICAO. It promotes global harmonization through the development of ICAO 

Standards and Recommended Practices and manuals/guideline documents for surface and 

airborne observations/forecasts and global dissemination of aviation weather information that 

are supportive of NextGen. This work is accomplished through developing and presenting, to 

12 ICAO planning, study, and operations groups, U.S. positions on issues arising from the 

ICAO Volcanic Ash program, the World Area Forecast System, the international Space 

Weather program, and amendments to ICAO Annex 3 and other guidance material to 

incorporate the NextGen concept of the 4-D Weather Data Cube.

3. The System Performance component develops metrics that provide a framework for 

enabling the FAA to measure the benefits of weather information for air traffic operations. It 

maintains standards for surface observations for the backup and augmentation of ASOS.

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The NAS Infrastructure Portfolio

The NAS Infrastructure Portfolio is a planning and development portfolio that includes elements 

to ensure NextGen operational weather capabilities utilize a broad range of weather 

improvements and technologies to mitigate the effects of weather in future NAS operations. This 

portfolio has two major NextGen weather elements: NextGen weather observation improvements 

and NextGen weather forecast improvements. The NextGen weather elements will address many 

weather problems including, but not limited to, rightsizing the observations network, transition 

of weather research to operations, development of weather impact metrics, development of 

weather decision support tools, integration of weather information into operations, weather 

processor architecture redesign and restructuring, and transition planning for legacy systems. The 

NextGen weather elements will conduct planning, prototyping, demonstrations, engineering 

evaluation, and investment readiness activities leading to an implementation of operational 

capabilities throughout the NextGen near, mid, and far terms.

A consistent and effective weather observation sensor network will be a cornerstone to improved 

NextGen weather capabilities. Currently the United States has fielded multiple weather surface 

sensor networks that vary in age up to 30 years. Ongoing technical refreshes and SLEPs can keep 

these sensors operating in the near to mid-term. However, as the demands of the NAS increase in 

the future, the present array of surface sensor systems will not be capable of delivering the 

required functionality. In addition, potential NextGen weather observation requirements might 

exceed current surface sensing capabilities (e.g., improved weather model initialization for 

increased weather forecast accuracy). Current surface observation systems also contain 

considerable overlap and waste that should be engineered out of the NAS. NextGen weather 

observation improvements will explore concepts for a next-generation surface sensing capability 

that can satisfy all current surface sensing requirements in a single system and be easily 

expandable to meet any future NextGen requirements.

The second NextGen weather element, NextGen weather forecast improvements, addresses the 

need to enable better weather decision-making and use of weather information in the transformed 

NAS. This need includes: (1) integrating weather information tailored for decision support tools 

and systems into NextGen operations, (2) implementing improved forecasts by transitioning 

advanced forecast capabilities from aviation weather research, (3) developing and using metrics 

to evaluate the effectiveness of weather improvements in the NAS, (4) developing probabilistic 

forecasts that can be effectively used in air traffic and traffic flow management, and (5) 

determining the most effective solution for a processor architecture to support these capabilities. 

RWI will propose recommendations for near, mid, and far time frames, including a 

recommendation for transition of legacy systems.

Collectively the effect of the NextGen NAS Infrastructure Portfolio weather elements will result 

in aviation weather information no longer being just a stand-alone display, requiring cognitive 

interpretation and impact assessment, with limited ability to significantly mitigate delays. 

Instead, weather information is being designed to integrate with and support NextGen decisionoriented automation capabilities and human decision-making processes.

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NOAA/National Weather Service

NOAA’s commitment to the NextGen initiative has two core components: NextGen 

IT/WebServices which will provide improved access to NOAA weather information in the 

formats required by NextGen users and the NextGen Weather program, which will improve the 

accuracy, resolution and timeliness of weather information relevant to aviation users.

Specifically, NextGen IT/Web Services will provide an information technology infrastructure 

which is flexible and extensible to keep pace with users’ weather information needs in a rapidly 

changing technological environment. The greater and easier access to NOAA weather 

information for aviation decision-makers will facilitate better integration of this information into 

aviation users’ decision-making processes and systems.

The NWS NextGen Weather program conducts targeted development of aviation weather tools 

and techniques and supports the transition of these new technologies to operations. FY15 and 

FY16 efforts are focused on improved data assimilation methods for advanced numerical 

models, evolution of statistical models for aviation weather prediction, prototyping of gridded 

weather information for aviation, and development of new capabilities to evaluate the 

performance of aviation forecasts.

NOAA aviation weather information will be available to users of the NAS and to the FAA Air 

Traffic Management community through the FAA’s Common Support Services – Weather 

Program (CSS-Wx). While NextGen IT Services implements common weather data services, 

CSS-Wx will also implement these common data services within the FAA enterprise, and will 

utilize the weather data and information from NOAA for use in weather impact decisions for 

aviation.

Aviation Weather Testbed 

The NOAA/NWS Aviation Weather Testbed is a research-to-operations facility within the 

NOAA National Weather Service’s (NWS) National Centers for Environmental Prediction 

(NCEP) Aviation Weather Center (AWC). The AWT was established to facilitate the mission 

and realize the vision of NOAA NWS. The AWT achieves this through a physical and technical 

environment conducive to the efficient transfer of research into meteorological operations (or 

R2O). The AWT performs mission-relevant applied research and development (R&D) including 

R2O, and supports relevant R2O efforts of external partners in government, industry, and 

academia. The goal of all AWT activities is state-of-the-art meteorology, technology, and 

professionalism in NOAA operations.

NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research

Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL)

Within NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), the Global Systems 

Division of the Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL/GSD) evaluates aviation weather 

impact variables such as icing, turbulence, ceiling and visibility, and convective weather and 

develops decision tools for NWS forecast offices, FAA traffic managers, and commercial and 

civil aviation. Specifically, GSD has and will continue to develop capabilities to allow the 

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forecaster to integrate, view, and manipulate observations from current and planned 

meteorological sensing systems using computer-assisted data display and synthesis techniques.

Plans for FY 16:

• Development of weather briefing, verification, and decision-support tools for use at Air 

Route Traffic Control Center Weather Service Units, the Aviation Weather Center, the 

Air Traffic Control System Command Center, and at Weather Forecast Offices

• Evaluate upgraded algorithms for detecting and forecasting aviation impact variables

National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

NSSL is participating in the effort to help NOAA’s support for the NextGen initiative. Planning 

with the FAA and the NWS began in FY 2009 and is anticipated to continue for the next several 

years. NSSL is also working with the FAA’s AWRP to develop weather radar applications that 

enhance the safety and efficiency of the aviation community and the NAS. Work is focused on 

both convective weather and winter weather, with special attention to treating all WSR-88D 

radars within the continental United States as a single network. As part of this effort, the MultiRadar, Multi-Sensor (MRMS) system is being used to support intensive research directed toward 

polarimetric radar applications unique to aviation needs. Examples using WSR-88D dual-pol 

radar data include wintertime quantitative precipitation estimation, detection of icing 

(supercooled liquid water) conditions and winter precipitation type (snow, sleet, freezing rain, 

etc.) and data quality issues unique to FAA users. Work is also progressing on a prediction 

system that applies pattern recognition and geospatial data mining to forecast fields from

convection-allowing ensemble prediction systems to predict the porosity of thunderstorms and 

thunderstorm complexes/systems. NSSL is exploring methods for using the ensemble to predict 

the likelihood that a region or specific flight corridor will be porous for airplane traffic.

NSSL is actively engaged in a risk reduction activity for the Multifunction Phased Array Radar 

(MPAR) technology with the FAA and industry in designing and testing dual-polarized phased 

array radar panels required to determine the feasibility of using MPAR as the replacement 

technology for weather and aircraft surveillance radars (i.e. multi-function). The NSSL has 

funded the development of 2 small-scale demonstrator phased array radar systems with research 

interests at the University of Oklahoma and MIT Lincoln Laboratory. These demonstrators will 

provide an evaluation of dual polarization phased array radar technologies on a planar (MIT/LL) 

and cylindrical platform (OU). NSSL has also begun a multi-year collaboration with the FAA to

develop an Advanced Technology Demonstrator (ATD) upgrade to replace the SPY-1A passive 

phased array radar at the National Weather Radar Testbed (NWRT) with an active array dual 

polarization antenna and should be completed by FY18.

Model Development and Enhancement (MD&E)

This AWRP research is targeted at developing and improving weather prediction models and 

data assimilation systems to better characterize the state of the atmosphere with the goal of 

providing superior aviation weather information to enhance NAS safety and capacity. These 

assimilation and prediction systems utilize all the latest weather observations and advanced 

supercomputers to create the most accurate and timely depiction of the future state of the 

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weather. The future weather information output from these computer models serves as the 

underpinning for virtually all weather guidance beyond the first hour.

This research has been a collaborative partnership of the FAA, NOAA, NCAR, the Center for the 

Analysis and Prediction of Storms, the Air Force Weather Agency, and the Naval Research 

Laboratory to build the state-of-the-art Grid-point Statistical Interpolation (GSI) data 

assimilation system and Weather research and Forecast (WRF) modeling framework. Key results 

have been the 2012 implementation into NWS operations of the hourly-updated Rapid Refresh 

(RAP) weather prediction system and the 2014 implementation of the High Resolution Rapid 

Refresh (HRRR) model. These systems have yielded better wind forecasts and improved 

diagnoses and forecasts of weather hazardous to aviation, including en-route turbulence, 

convective weather, in-flight icing, convection, and restricted visibility, over an expanded 

domain including Alaska.

Current efforts are focused on improvements to the RAP to enhance convective weather, 

turbulence, ceiling and visibility, and icing forecasts as well as continued improvement of the 

HRRR model, which provides storm-scale resolution to capture convective activity at the cell 

level.

Federal Aviation Administration

Aviation Weather Research Program (AWRP)

The FAA’s AWRP performs applied research intended to mitigate the impact of weather on the 

NAS. Weather Program projects and initiatives:

• Support achievement of specific NextGen weather Operational Improvements as 

described in NextGen Implementation Plan.

• Mitigate weather related NAS safety and/or traffic flow efficiency issues with a line of 

sight to operations and existing and planned ATM systems supporting operations.

• Support the evolution of legacy weather capabilities that meet the weather information 

needs of today’s NAS users into the capabilities that fulfill the NextGen weather vision. 

This work is conducted in collaboration with the FAA’s designated weather provider, the 

National Weather Service (NWS).

The AWRP’s applied research focuses on advancing the state of weather information such that it 

can be exploited for integration into NextGen decision-support. This advanced weather 

information is expected to enhance NAS safety and capacity by supporting better operational 

planning and decision-making by operational users including air traffic managers, flight 

dispatchers, and pilots. In the near and midterm, some research will support tools and 

methodologies used by NWS forecasters to improve the accuracy and relevancy of legacy 

weather products and services still mandated by FAA regulatory guidance and/or international 

agreement.

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Service Analysis

Weather Research for Service Analysis is a critical analysis of the various technologies for 

translating weather information into aviation constraints, and the application of the constraints to 

quantify operational impacts. Major areas of work include: Conducting climatology assessments, 

operational impact assessments, and gap analysis to validate a potential weather issue, identify 

opportunities and propose workable solutions; Conducting research associated with the Air 

Traffic Management (ATM) Weather Integration Plan for the Next Generation Air 

Transportation System (NextGen); Providing critical analyses of the various technologies for 

translating weather information into aviation constraints, and the application of the constraints to 

quantify operational impacts; and determining which technologies address constraints and which 

address impacts. This work can be conducted as an independent assessment or as part of the New 

Service Needs as initial input into the Mission Analysis phase of the Acquisition Management 

System (AMS) lifecycle.

Observations

Advanced Weather Radar Techniques (AWRT) research focuses on monitoring and improving 

the quality of information derived from weather radar networks. This research has resulted in 

techniques for mitigating gaps in those networks to produce the Multi Radar Multi Sensor 

(MRMS) capability. MRMS derives information from the Weather Surveillance Radar 88D 

(WSR-88D), TDWR, and Canadian and Mexican weather radar networks and seamlessly 

integrates them into an all-weather radar network to form high resolution, three dimensional 

mosaics. AWRT maintains a research and development MRMS system at the William J. Hughes 

Technical Center (WJHTC) to conduct research into radar techniques and products that improve 

weather support to aviation. Current efforts include incorporation of Caribbean weather radars 

into MRMS, developing advanced reflectivity quality control using polarimetric radar techniques 

to improve the new melting layer delineation scheme, and resolving bugs found in the new 

MRMS operational system run by NOAA/NCEP.

Forecasts and Modeling

In-Flight Icing

This research is aimed at developing improvements to in-flight icing diagnosis and forecasting 

with a goal of reducing the rate of aircraft icing related accidents and fatalities for aircraft 

operations in the NAS. Over the continental United States, the Current Icing Product High 

Resolution (CIP-HiRes) and Forecast Icing Product High Resolution (FIP-HiRes) have been 

developed to provide hourly updates of current and forecast in-flight icing conditions out to 18 

hours. These products include probability and severity of icing conditions, as well as supercooled large drop potential. CIP-HiRes and FIP-HiRes products are available to all NAS users on 

ADDS, hosted on the AviationWeather.gov site, which provides comprehensive user-friendly

aviation weather graphics including icing, turbulence, and convection. Current research efforts 

include development of a current and forecast icing product for Alaska, and development of 

enhanced icing weather diagnosis and forecast algorithms using weather parameters including 

liquid water content, drop size, and temperature. The latter research effort called Model of Icing 

Conditions for Real-Time Operations (MICRO) will be used to produce future ice accretion 

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products that will likely apply to a particular class of aircraft (prop, turboprop, jet, etc.) for use in 

the NAS by pilots and flight crews in avoiding hazardous icing areas. Planned future efforts also 

include development of a global (oceanic routes) forecast icing product. 

Research was completed in FY2011 to enhance efficiency and safety during winter terminal 

operations through the development of a prototype for Liquid Water Equivalent Rate System 

(LWES) specification for determining holdover times more accurately than those from currently 

used visibility tables. Results from this research are being incorporated into the development of 

the Terminal Area Icing Weather Information for NextGen (TAIWIN) capability. The goal of the 

TAIWIN effort is to develop a comprehensive terminal area ground and in-flight icing weather 

capability (for use by pilots, air traffic and ground de-icing operations) to provide terminal area 

icing weather information for operational decision-making.

Additionally research is on-going for high altitude turbine engine icing forecasts. The project is 

called High Ice Water Content (HIWC). The purpose of the project is to improve diagnosis and 

forecast of high altitude ice crystal icing in deep convective clouds which can cause temporary 

engine shut-down and loss of power including damage to engine compressor blades. More than 

140 ice crystal engine power loss events have occurred in the last 18 years. The goal is to prevent 

flights from flying through areas of high ice water content.

Convective Weather

Convective weather is a critical area of research due to the considerable impact convective 

storms have on NAS operations. These storms contribute to delays, diversions and cancellations, 

along with well-documented effects on safety and capacity. The FAA’s AWRP Convective 

Weather Research Program seeks to address this problem by: (1) Exploring how thunderstorm 

information is used to make decisions and assessing the need for improved dissemination and 

communication of this information; (2) Increasing the fundamental understanding of how 

thunderstorms form, behave, and impact the NAS; and (3) Developing advanced thunderstorm 

analysis and predictive capabilities.

The following research projects are underway: (1) Improve the blending of different weather 

model types for prediction of convective storms in the 1-4 hour time frame; (2) Conduct an 

independent assessment and user evaluation on a technology to estimate radar-like precipitation 

intensity and echo top height of storms beyond radar range that combines global lightning data, 

satellite data, and output from numerical weather prediction models with existing radar mosaics; 

(3) Develop and advance probabilistic convective weather hazard guidance for oceanic regions 

from 0 – 36 hours; and (4) Identify and quantify the impacts of ramp closures due to lightning 

threats on NAS efficiency and safety of ground personnel, and determine if inefficiencies in 

lightning procedures (or the lack of procedures) can be mitigated with streamlined and consistent 

decision support guidance. In addition to the specific areas of research identified above, 

convective weather research will also support the initiatives of the Collaborative Decision 

Making (CDM) community and work to improve the prediction of other convective weather 

hazards such as hail, windshear, and turbulence.

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Aviation Services

Turbulence

This research has focused on producing real-time turbulence nowcasts and probabilistic forecasts 

of turbulence. The method utilized in meeting these objectives is a turbulence-forecasting 

capability in conjunction with two supporting sensor capabilities: one for in-situ detection of 

turbulence and the second for remote sensing of turbulence. The in-situ work has resulted in the 

deployment of an aircraft-based Eddy Dissipation Rate (EDR) turbulence detection algorithm on 

aircraft at Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. The remote sensing work 

has targeted the use of data from the NEXRAD radar network. Data from the NEXRAD 

Turbulence Detection Algorithm, currently operational on NEXRAD, will be used as input for 

the production of a turbulence analysis (nowcast) product. 

Ceiling and Visibility (C&V)

Unexpected low ceilings and restricted visibility conditions are a contributing factor in over 30% 

of all General Aviation weather-related accidents. In addition, C&V can significantly disrupt 

terminal operations by degrading an airport’s arrival rate and, in more severe cases, closing the 

airport entirely. This research is focused on developing an improved national-scale gridded 

analysis of ceiling and visibility conditions. These improved C&V products will take advantage 

of scientific advances in numerical weather modeling to provide information of conditions over 

data-sparse or data-void areas between instrumented airfields. This research also seeks to 

incorporate data harvested from satellite imagery and FAA weather cameras into the gridded 

forecasts. These automated, rapidly-updated C&V products will support NextGen requirements 

as well as provide NWS forecasters with critical information to help keep pilots safe. The FAA is 

working with the NWS to more effectively and efficiently integrate numerical model output and 

C&V algorithms into the production of NWS terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAFs) and area 

forecasts (FAs). Similarly, some of these advanced, automated capabilities will eventually be 

provided directly to Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) and NAS operational decision 

makers. Currently, a gridded national C&V analysis (CVA) uses frequently updated C&V data 

from airfield observations to display C&V conditions as an automated national gridded display 

available via ADDS, hosted on the AviationWeather.gov site. C&V forecast information will 

eventually be provided hourly in both probabilistic and deterministic form to support both human 

users and future automated decision support systems. This research will also improve output 

from the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) display tool used in certain helicopter 

operations to facilitate their No-Go decisions. This year, the HEMS tool application has 

transitioned to NWS operations on the popular aviationweather.gov website.

Volcanic Ash 

The FAA continues to lead the U.S.’s efforts to ensure the nation’s air transportation system 

maintains an excellent safety record for operations in air space contaminated with volcanic ash.

Following the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull in April 2010, the FAA 

participated in the ICAO Volcanic Ash Task Force. This task force primary mission was to 

develop a global safety risk management framework to determine safe levels of operation in 

airspace contaminated by volcanic ash and deal with the issues from large volcanic eruptions that 

disrupt global air transportation. That volcanic event, which centered in Europe, caused global 

disruption in the aviation community, resulting in cancelations and delays of flights.

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The FAA is taking the lead, in cooperation with other U.S. agencies and international partners, in 

the following areas and initiatives:

• Development of a Concept of Operations for volcanic ash information in support of air traffic 

operations and management

• Development of a collaborative forecasting model to support the information exchange and 

collaboration between various Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers as well as Meteorological 

Watch Office, Air Navigation Service Providers, and Airline Operations Centers in volcanic 

ash cloud analysis and forecasts

• Support an engine testing initiative for volcanic ash

• Other efforts supported by various U.S. agencies and international partners include:

• Continued research efforts to improve volcanic ash dispersion and transport models, which 

are key to providing improved forecasts of the location of ash clouds

• Improvements in volcano monitoring and the detection and reporting of volcano eruptions

• Initial documentation of best practices for the VAACs

The successful completion of these programs will result in improvements to the air transportation 

system, which will reduce the economic impacts from large volcanic eruptions and ensure no 

decline in safety.

Model Development and Enhancement (MD&E)

This AWRP research is targeted at developing and improving weather prediction models and 

data assimilation systems to better characterize the state of the atmosphere with the goal of 

providing superior aviation weather information to enhance NAS safety and capacity. These 

assimilation and prediction systems utilize all the latest weather observations and advanced 

supercomputers to create the most accurate and timely depiction of the future state of the 

weather. The future weather information output from these computer models serves as the 

underpinning for virtually all weather guidance beyond the first hour.

This research has been a collaborative partnership of the FAA, NOAA, NCAR, the Center for the 

Analysis and Prediction of Storms, the Air Force Weather Agency, and the Naval Research 

Laboratory to build the state-of-the-art Grid-point Statistical Interpolation (GSI) data 

assimilation system and Weather research and Forecast (WRF) modeling framework. Key results 

has have been the 2012 implementation into NWS operations of the hourly-updated Rapid Refresh 

(RAP) weather prediction system and the 2014 implementation of the High Resolution Rapid Refresh 

(HRRR) model. These systems have yielded better wind forecasts and improved diagnoses and 

forecasts of weather hazardous to aviation, including en-route turbulence, convective weather, inflight icing, and restricted visibility over an expanded domain including Alaska, as well as stormscale resolution of convective activity at the cell level to support air traffic management 

decisions pertaining to convective weather.

Current efforts are focused on improvements to the RAP and HRRR to enhance convective 

weather, turbulence, ceiling and visibility, and icing forecasts as well as expanding to global 

coverage.

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Weather Technology in the Cockpit (WTIC)

The purpose of this research program is to reduce 

the negative impacts of adverse weather 

conditions on the National Airspace System 

(NAS) and aircraft by developing, verifying, and

validating recommendations to support 

airworthiness standards for enabling availability 

and improving the quality and quantity of 

meteorological (MET) information available to 

the aircraft. There are numerous research projects 

within the WTIC portfolio to achieve this overall 

project goal of recommending a 1Minimum 

Weather Service that aid pilots in decision-making 

when faced with adverse weather conditions. The portfolio of projects will perform the research 

necessary to address the overarching WTIC research questions (the specific FAR Part 91 and 

FAR Part 121/135 research questions will be delineated below). Instrumental in gaining answers 

to these research questions is research to resolve any shortfalls, gaps, and issues that were 

identified as gaps in MET information in the cockpit. A brief summary of several WTIC research 

projects are detailed in the following subsections. 

General Aviation(GA) Minimum Weather Service

The GA minimum weather service research effort is focused on the identification of Causal 

Factors for GA weather-related accidents and the gaps associated with weather information and 

presentation in the cockpit. The specific FAR Part 91 WTIC research will attempt to ascertain:

• Why has the weather-related accident rate for GA aircraft not decreased more with the 

commercial advances in MET cockpit technology and information? (i.e., obtain more 

insight into causes and locations of GA accidents and incidents)

• What is the minimum weather service for GA? 

• What is the minimum MET information needed in the cockpit? 

• What is the minimum quality of the MET information for the cockpit?

• What are the minimum rendering standards needed to enable correct interpretation of the 

minimum MET information in the cockpit and to enable consistent, safe, and effective 

decision-making? 

1 The term “minimum weather service” as used in this document is defined as the minimum 

weather information content required in cockpits along with the associated parameters of that 

information, such as reliability, accuracy, update rates, and spatial resolution. The minimum 

weather service will also include rendering recommendations to reduce the likelihood of 

interpretation errors.

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• What are the gaps and shortfalls in pilot understanding and proper use of the MET 

information, and what training is needed to address these gaps and shortfalls?

Research projects as part of the GA minimum weather service include defining information 

required to aid GA pilots in decision-making regarding adverse weather, reviewing the Aviation 

Safety Reporting System (ASRS) to identify and assess casual factors and trends of weatherrelated incidents, and conducting a causality analysis to identify, quantify, and assess gaps or 

issues with cockpit MET information. Additional research will include assessing the feasibility to 

develop agile, low latency, adverse weather cockpit alerts that require minimal cognitive 

processing by the pilot. The GA minimum weather service effort will also evaluate the utility of 

selected current MET products as decision support tools in high stress flight scenarios, and 

review issues associated with transition from Visual Flight Rules (VFR) into Instrument 

Meteorological Conditions (IMC) to determine decision making trends.

The Mobile Application project is researching MET information that provides benefits to the 

cockpit when presented on a mobile application. In addition, it is also researching limitations and 

capabilities of existing technology to support the concept of operation for this mobile 

application. Phase I and II of this research project was successfully completed and 

recommendations originating for these phases will be included as elements of the Min WxSvc.

Results from Phase II of the WTIC Standardization Assessment project indicated statistically 

significant variations in pilot awareness of adverse weather events. Specifically, the recognition 

by pilots of METARs (surface observations) changing from indicating Visual Flight Rules 

(VFR) conditions to Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions at their destination and potential 

alternate airports was far below expectations. Therefore, a third phase was deemed necessary. 

The third phase of the WTIC Standardization Assessment project will attempt to identify the 

elements in the presentations (such as colors, shapes, or a combination) that contribute to the 

performance variations and the design of those elements that provide most consistent safe 

performance and adverse weather event recognition. This phase was successfully completed and 

the data is currently being analyzed.

The WTIC program is also working with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

(NASA) to perform detailed callbacks on Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) incident 

reports that identify weather or data linked MET information as a contributing factor.

The WTIC program is also performing research to develop inputs for improving pilot training 

relative to MET information and new MET technology. This research entails the development of 

scenario based self-study online weather training and the revision and development of pilot 

written exam questions.

The WTIC program works closely with multiple RTCA Special Committees to collaboratively 

develop standards and guidance material associated with the delivery and presentation of weather 

information in the cockpit. The most extensive support is provided to RTCA SC-206, 

Aeronautical Information Services Data Link, and their efforts to develop recommendations for 

data link architecture and the dissemination of MET information between aircraft and ground 

users. In addition, the WTIC program also provides support to RTCA SC-233 a sub-committee 

tasked with developing recommendations for addressing human factors/pilot interface issues for 

avionics.

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Part 121 / 135 Minimum Weather Service 

The Flight Deck Information research of the WTIC Minimum Weather Service for aircraft 

operating under FAR Part 121/135 research will attempt to ascertain:

• What are the current operational inefficiencies, by phase of flight, attributable to shortfalls of 

MET information in the cockpit?

• What are the potential NextGen operational inefficiencies attributable to shortfalls of MET 

information in the cockpit?

• What is the minimum weather service* for major aircraft categories in Part 121 and 135?

This WTIC Flight Deck Information research project includes research to provide accurate and 

timely wind information to flight management systems (FMSs), and quantify any predicted 

benefits of associated NextGen application programs (e.g., TBO, CLEEN, Interval 

Management). In addition, this minimum weather service effort will examine methods designed 

to improve characteristics of MET information such as format, latency, accuracy, etc., so that the 

information is ready for direct integration into select decision support tools (DSTs). 

The WTIC program In Situ Turbulence project goal is the successful integration of objective 

turbulence information into NAS operations, both during the strategic flight planning process as 

well as the tactical process of re-routing aircraft during flight. The intent here is to provide the 

cockpit with current and forecast turbulence information in order to permit the pilot to be a more 

informed decision maker in terms of flight planning and cabin management. In order to achieve 

this goal the WTIC program will support the expanded deployment of the EDR algorithm 

throughout the airline industry (through government funded efforts and advocacy) in order to 

support meeting the required density of turbulence observations to support NextGen.

A separate effort, the Weather Technology in the Cockpit (WTIC) Turbulence/EDR Uplink 

Demonstration, assessed the feasibility of using a low-cost device for the displaying of 

turbulence forecasts and EDR information in the cockpit for direct use by the flight crew. A 

Quantification of Benefits to the NAS was conducted as part of this effort. Current efforts 

include demonstrating the capability to uplink tactical turbulence and cloud top information to 

the cockpit. A new turbulence forecast product is planned to be operational that will add explicit 

forecasts for mountain-wave turbulence and extend current capabilities to all level, surface to 

FL450.

The WTIC program MET Information in Oceanic and Remote Regions Shortfall Analyses 

project will identify current operational inefficiencies, potential NextGen operational 

inefficiencies, and potential safety risks (current and NextGen) attributable to gaps of MET 

information in the cockpit in oceanic and other remote regions. The results of the research will 

partly address the WTIC research question of identifying current operational and NextGen 

inefficiencies attributable to gaps of MET information or technology in the cockpit. Previously 

accomplished WTIC research indicated benefits to providing cloud top information in oceanic 

and remote regions. This research is intended to identify gaps that are not fully resolved by 

providing cloud top information in the cockpit. A Human over the Loop Demonstration (HOTL) 

to assess the impacts to decision making in a collaborative environment of providing cloud top 

data in oceanic and data sparse areas was successfully completed and planning has commenced 

for an oceanic demonstration that will include other oceanic Min WxSvc recommendations.

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The WTIC program Adverse Weather Alerting Functions Use Case Analysis will identify Use 

Cases where a weather alerting function may address a weather information gap or assist in pilot 

decision-making relative to an adverse weather condition along their intended route of flight. The 

research will also include analyses to determine the concepts of an alerting function with 

performance characteristics that could provide benefit to pilots. The deliverables from this 

research will be used by the WTIC program to select the weather alerting functions to be 

prototyped and evaluated in a flight simulation demonstration. The first human-over-the-loop 

(HOTL) simulation to assess the end-to-end system component compatibility of generating a 

tactical turbulence alert to the cockpit crew was successfully completed and the result indicates 

that the latency was acceptable. HOTL II which assesses the effectiveness of alert information in 

aiding pilot decision making for cabin management will commence shortly.

The WTIC Wind Diagnosis project is focused on defining elements of wind quality that impact 

NextGen application programs and performing simulations to assess those impacts based on 

varying wind quality.

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CLIMATE SERVICES

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

NOAA/National Weather Service

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) 

provides climate services through the National Centers for Environmental Prediction’s (NCEP) 

Climate Prediction Center (CPC), the NWS Climate Services Branch (CSB), and more than 150 

NWS regional and local offices nationwide. The NWS Climate Services Branch (CSB) provides 

programmatic support to CPC and NWS local offices. In collaboration with other NOAA offices, 

CSB develops training, education and outreach materials. CSB designs climate data mining and 

analysis tools, as well as local climate products for users of climate information. CSD fosters 

climate services ties with other NOAA offices, federal government agencies, academia and 

external climate communities.

CPC delivers a broad range of products and services including climate monitoring and forecasts, 

as well as regional climate impacts information. The product suite spans time scales from a week 

to seasons, extending into the future as far as technically feasible, and covers the land, the ocean 

and the atmosphere. CPC also identifies the important physical factors responsible for variability, 

anomalies, and trends in global and regional climate in order to improve these products. The 

NWS Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) use these products to deliver climate services to local 

users. Together with NWS regional offices WFOs are responsible for collecting climate data, 

developing locally-relevant products, and conducting local climate studies in response to user 

needs. Applications include the mitigation of weather-related natural disasters and uses in 

agriculture, energy, transportation, water resources, and health. Additionally, WFOs issue daily 

and monthly climate reports for their areas of responsibility, providing localized information 

about temperature and precipitation records and extreme events such as droughts. WFOs serve as 

the local NOAA user interface for climate services, including outreach and education. They are 

also responsible for the integrity and continuity of the historical climate record for their area of 

responsibility.

For the purposes of this Federal Plan, Climate Services are specialized meteorological and 

hydrological services established to meet the requirements of Federal, state, and local 

agencies for information on the historical, current, and future state of the earth system.

Climate services include observations, monitoring, assessments, predictions, and projections 

of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and land surface systems.

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

NOAA/NESDIS

National Centers for Environmental Information/Center for Weather and Climate

formerly known as the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI, see www.ncei.noaa.gov), Center 

for Weather and Climate (CWC) is the trusted authority for U.S. and global retrospective 

weather and climate data and related environmental information. CWC provides the nation with 

environmental intelligence for decision-making through use-inspired applied science, the 

resulting products and services, and authoritative assessments and monitoring. Science at CWC 

is peer-reviewed, applied research that transforms data into authoritative, accessible, and 

actionable information. CWC’s product lines and services reflect the needs of customers 

representing the breadth of economic sectors for important regional, national, and global areas.

CWC operates a reference surface observing network, sustains baseline historical data records 

that incorporate satellite and surface observations, and actively contributes to climate and 

weather monitoring and assessment efforts of national and international significance. 

Environmental information—from the stone age to the space age, e.g., from paleoclimate data to 

present in situ, atmospheric, ocean, and satellite data—are the basis for the CWC’s sustained 

science and services commitment to all users. 

The State of the Climate in 2014 Report. The “State of the Climate” 

(http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/bams-state-of-the-climate/) series has provided a detailed update on 

global climate indicators, notable weather events, and data collected by environmental 

monitoring stations and instruments since the report’s inception in 1990. For the 15th 

consecutive year, CWC (formerly known as the National Climatic Data Center, or NCDC) 

scientists served as lead editors of the report, which was compiled by 420 scientists from 58 

countries across the globe and published as a supplement to the Bulletin of the American 

Meteorological Society. For the third year, the report was accompanied by an online rollout at 

https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/2014-state-climate-highlights, 

providing easy access to key themes of the report for the public.

The report used dozens of internationally recognized climate indicators to track and identify 

changes and trends in the global climate system. Each indicator included thousands of 

measurements from multiple independent datasets. The diverse array of international authors 

helped consolidate this wide range of data, using their expertise to more fully understand and 

communicate the state of the complex climate system. The report provided a valuable reference 

for the increasing number of professionals and consultants who use climate conditions and trends 

in their work.

NCEI Website and Home Page. NCEI developed an integrated website landing page from the 

previous NOAA Data Centers and redesigned components of the previous NOAA Data Centers 

websites by simplifying access to systems, data, and services. In addition, more efficient 

maintenance was implemented and Google Analytics was introduced to better analyze website 

traffic and anticipate customer needs. This enhanced redesign now allows better navigation for 

major topical areas, including data access and information, as well as streamlines content and 

data access systems into logical groupings. Customers are now able to easily gather pertinent 

data and information for their needs and operations. Additional benefits from this redesign 

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Climate Services

include simplified hardware and software support, enhanced security, and better use of personnel 

resources by streamlining maintenance.

Reference Environmental Data Records (REDR) Program. Formerly the Climate Data Records 

(CDR) Program, REDR transforms use-inspired science research results into operational 

products in order to meet the growing needs of U.S. industry and commerce. The REDR 

Program has amplified the investment of hundreds of millions of federal research dollars spent at 

other agencies, particularly NASA, by transitioning the Nation’s best, most mature research to 

NOAA operations. The REDR Program’s accurate determination of environmental trends helps 

the Nation to better estimate the magnitude and impact of future changes.

• The REDR Program generates and sustains a portfolio of operational satellite and in situ

REDRs that are required for operational decision-making, environmental and climate policy 

development, catastrophic risk assessment, and national, state, and regional climate 

assessment and information products. 

• The REDR Program provides continuing return on investments past the lifetime of major 

NOAA observing investments, including satellites such as POES, GOES, JPSS and future 

GOES-R instruments.

Record-Setting Volumes of Data. NCEI archives data to preserve them for posterity from every 

corner of the globe, including land-based, marine, model, radar, weather balloon, satellite, and 

paleoclimate data. CWC routinely incorporates, stewards, and provides access to these data to 

meet the needs of a wide variety of customers. In 2014, NCEI planned for vast increases in data 

requests, implemented new archival storage and access practices to reduce the cost of archive 

and delivery of data, and made improvements to the information technology infrastructure to 

proficiently handle increases in data delivery. NCEI upgraded the system used to retrieve data 

from the digital archives in order to improve efficiency and reduce data delivery times for radar 

and satellite orders. For more information, see NCEI’s Data Access page, 

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access.

Throughout FY 2014, users from all over the world downloaded NCDC’s model, satellite, and 

radar data from both the Asheville, NC, and Boulder, CO, sites—totaling a record volume of 

over 6 petabytes. For perspective, one petabyte of data is equivalent to the digital space needed 

for over 13 years of high-definition television. Satellite data access had the highest volume of 

data downloaded, followed by model and radar data.

Alaska Climate Division Data. NCEI scientists and climate services professionals worked with 

stakeholders in Alaska to identify, define, and implement 13 climate divisions within Alaska. 

These climate divisions are now serviced by near-real-time climate data, with a record that 

extends back to 1925. Alaska’s near-real-time climate-division data services are now on par with 

those for the contiguous United States. The establishment of these divisions will allow for an 

expanded suite of prediction services from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.

U.S. Climate Reference Network (USCRN) Expansion in the State of Alaska. The USCRN 

Program, managed by NCEI, has been working to expand the network in Alaska since 2009. As 

of the end of 2014, a total of 16 stations have been installed and are operating across Alaska.

During summer 2015, two new sites will be installed in the Denali National Park and Preserve 

and in the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge, bringing the total number of operational sites in 

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Alaska to 18. The plan is to install a total of 29 USCRN stations in Alaska by the end of 2022. 

Data from the USCRN stations in Alaska, as well as the 114 stations in the lower 48 states, and 

two in Hawaii, are available at http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/crn/.

Regional Climate Services. The Regional Climate Services (RCS) program focuses on defining 

requirements and developing products, services, and information access services for a broad 

range of users across the Nation. These efforts are supported by six Regional Climate Service 

Directors (RCSDs) in the six NWS Regional areas. The RCSDs assess the needs of public and 

private sector users at the local, state, regional, and federal levels and leverage the work of CWC, 

as well as the Center for Coasts, Oceans, and Geophysics’ (CCOG) coastal data development 

activities to ensure broad, national, comprehensive data and information for issues related to the 

interaction of land and coastal physical, biological, and chemical processes. 

• The six RCSDs work closely with six independent, public-private sector Regional Climate 

Centers (RCCs) that focus on addressing local, state, and regional climate services and 

issues. Each RCC is located on a university campus, receives NOAA funding for a portion of 

their operations, and provides a range of services and products to NOAA, state and local 

agencies, businesses, and other stakeholders.

NOAA/Office of Marine and Aviation Operations

NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown, an oceanographic and atmospheric research platform, is the 

largest vessel in the NOAA fleet (274 feet). With its instruments and sensors, Ronald H. Brown

sails worldwide, supporting scientific studies to increase our understanding of the world's oceans 

and climate. 

The Ronald H. Brown typically supports research programs of NOAA's Tropical AtmosphereOcean (TAO, http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/) Project (real-time data from moored ocean buoys 

for improved detection, understanding and prediction of El Niño and La Niña). The primary 

objective for the ship is servicing some of the approximately 60 Autonomous Temperature Line 

Acquisition Systems (ATLAS) and current meter moorings in the central and eastern equatorial 

Pacific. The Ronald H. Brown works in cooperation with the Woods Hole Oceanographic 

Institute to conduct mooring recovery and deployment operations of the Stratus Ocean Reference 

Station, located under the stratocumulus clouds off Chile and Peru. The ship conducts 

meteorological and air-sea flux observations to document and establish the accuracy of the 

moored metrological observations and to observe oceanic and atmospheric variability. This 

region is of critical importance to climate predictability. 

Ronald H. Brown conducts the PIRATA Northeast Extension (PNE; 

http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/phod/pne/index.php) project, a joint project of Brazil, France, and the 

United States. The overarching goal is to improve knowledge and understanding of oceanatmosphere variability in the tropical Atlantic. The ship will also be conducting the CalWater 2 

project in the Pacific. The goal of this work is to develop and test methods to improve U. S. West 

Coast forecasts of damaging landfalling winter storms emerging from the data sparse Pacific 

Ocean. The project will involve multiple air and sea research platforms.

The WP-3D, G-IV, and DHC-6 aircraft will take part in several projects for the Office of 

Oceanic and Atmospheric research. In January, the G-IV will conduct the CalWater 2016 project 

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studying high-altitude winds via NOAA airborne radar with the goal of improved weather and 

air-quality forecasts. During the summer, the DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft will conduct a BioLidar 

mission in the Gulf of Mexico region. This mission will use an aerosol sensor and a Doppler 

Lidar to understand how atmospheric particles can influence weather and climate via cloud 

production, precipitation, and light scattering with the goal of improved understanding 

atmospheric chemistry. One of NOAA’s other DHC-6 aircraft with conduct the Arctic Heat 

project in Alaska during June and July. This project will help increase understanding of the 

complex processes that produce variability in the Arctic ecosystem with the goal of 

improvements in weather and sea-ice forecasting.

United States Air Force 

The USAF, through 14th Weather Squadron (14 WS), provides centralized climatology services 

and produces specialized weather-effects information for the DoD, Intelligence Community, and 

allied nations. The 14 WS provides decision-enabling products, allowing DoD command 

authorities to anticipate and thus exploit environmental impacts on all aspects of military 

operations worldwide and enhances the combat capability of the United States by delivering 

climate-based environmental situational awareness to the USAF, the Army, Unified Combatant 

Commands, the Intelligence Community, and the Department of Defense. The squadron 

produces a suite of standard and tailored products such as Operational Climatic Data Summaries, 

Engineering Weather Data, Wind Roses, and Wind Stratified Conditional Climatologies, among 

others, and provides frequency of occurrence and duration for mission-limiting factors. In 

addition to climatology products, the 14 WS provides forensic weather research, climate 

analysis, and climate monitoring and prediction. The squadron continues to modernize an online 

climatology toolkit by integrating GIS visualizations on its website and developing GIS-based 

spatial and cloud climatologies. These technologies provide DoD decision-makers with the data 

needed to optimally plan and execute operations.

Long-range outlook products cover time periods from one to six months into the future, and 

include seasonal forecasts and hazard assessments. The USAF produces 6-month graphical 

outlooks derived by using statistical methods, with an ensemble of Global Climate Model 

forecasts, considering the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), North Atlantic Oscillation, 

Southern Annular Mode, etc. The USAF is enhancing its 6-month outlook production capability 

by leveraging research conducted by the Air Force along with other national and international 

resources (including climatology work by NATO allies), as well as advances in understanding 

teleconnections (i.e., ENSO, North Atlantic Oscillation, Southern Annular Mode) in order to 

provide planners with a risk management tool to assess effects on future operations.

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

Figure 1: The 14th Weather Squadron collects and analyzes climate data and information, providing tailored 

climatology services to DoD, the Intelligence Community and allied nations. These regional climate products 

help the end-user assess and mitigate future operational impacts

United States Navy

Rear Admiral Jonathan White is also the Director of Task Force Climate Change. In order to 

establish capabilities in accordance with the Arctic Roadmap, special equipment and possibly 

new ice capable survey vessels and/or Polar Icebreaker (PIB) ships will be needed. In 1965 the 

Navy turned over all ice breaking responsibilities to the Coast Guard. The Navy supports the 

Coast Guard in their requirements, and it makes good sense to have a modern, dedicated Arctic 

icebreaker to assist with disaster response and search and rescue. But at this point, we don't 

expect Navy ships to be operating in the ice zone. Our interest in the Arctic has been spurred by 

the fact that there is increasingly open water there, and that is where we will most likely be 

operating. The breaking up of the Arctic sea ice means that the ice is more subject to winds and 

currents, so it is certainly conceivable that a ship operating in open waters could quickly find 

itself surrounded by sea ice. Having a more reliable Arctic model and more accurate sea ice 

forecast would make it much safer for surface ships to operate there. 

In February 2015 the U.S. Navy issued an Implementation Plan to further strategic planning to 

increase operational capabilities and infrastructure in the Arctic, consistent with the U.S. Navy 

Arctic Roadmap 2014 - 2030. The United States assumed chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 

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Climate Services

June 2015. Within the next decade, it will be operating routinely in the Arctic with an 

appropriate presence that includes more than just submarines. Navy’s global area of 

responsibility is growing as it adds new coastlines and a new ocean. With the fiscal challenges 

confronting the Navy, it must use cooperative multilateral partnerships to successfully build an 

Arctic-capable force.

Navy is investing in significant Arctic research. It is important that it improve its understanding 

of the environment for safety of operations, because the Arctic will remain a harsh and 

challenging environment even as it becomes more accessible and active. This line of effort 

includes an emphasis on research to better understand the changing climate and improve Arctic 

weather forecast capabilities, and on high resolution surveying of the seabed. 

The U.S. federal fleet currently has two icebreakers, USCGC Polar Star, has been refitted, 

extending its operational life by perhaps another decade. The U.S. also has one medium 

icebreaker, the USCGC Healy, which is around 15 years old and is currently dedicated to 

scientific missions. Ice-hardening ships is expensive and impacts ship capabilities, like speed and 

turn-radius. We are still trying to determine the need for ice-hardened hulls.

The White House released a new National Strategy for the Arctic Region on 10 May 2013 

reflecting a growing recognition that the Arctic is opening up for human enterprise and will 

increasingly become a strategic priority for the United States. The Office of Science and 

Technology Policy (OSTP) is leading the effort considering the larger policy issues associated 

with national requirements for icebreaking services in both poles. The Science and Technology 

Policy Institute is summarizing past reports and seeking updates from key Federal agencies 

including the USCG, NSF, NOAA, NASA, and DOT.

The Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command has assets that can assist in this national 

effort. The command manages a fleet of six world-class ocean survey vessels and operates some 

of the world's finest oceanographic analysis and prediction computer models. Navy also partners 

with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard to 

monitor polar ice movement at the National Naval 

Ice Center in Suitland, MD. This is in line with the 

National Arctic Strategy's third line of effort—

building and maintaining cooperative relations 

with other Federal Agencies, as well as with Arctic 

nations and allies.

RADM White believes the presence of wellmeaning naval forces acts as a stabilizing influence 

toward mutual prosperity and safe maritime 

activity. Climate change and energy are two key 

issues that will play a significant role in shaping 

the futures security environment. Working closely 

with U.S. departments and agencies, the Department of Defense has undertaken environmental 

security cooperative initiatives with foreign militaries that represent a way of building trust 

through sharing best practices on installations management and operations. 

Figure 2: Passing through the Bering Strait on a 

USCG Icebreaker

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United States Geological Survey

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is both a provider of and user of climate-related 

services, but the balance between these two activities is quite different from that of NOAA. The 

USGS provides climate data and models, like NOAA, that can be used by resource managers and 

policy makers to anticipate and adapt to climate change. The USGS climate and land use change 

science program, however, also has a strong emphasis on understanding relationships between 

climate change and hydrological, geologic, and biological processes.

USGS has expertise and numerous research projects and products that describe long-term 

changes in the Earth’s climate. The climatic datasets developed by the USGS are based primarily 

on Earth surface and subsurface records, in contrast to the atmospheric records developed by 

NOAA. USGS climatic datasets are derived from ice sheets, glaciers, and permafrost; tree rings, 

landscape-scale phenology, and other biological data; and rock, sediments, and other 

paleodeposits, in addition to modern meteorologic, hydrologic, and remote sensing 

instrumentation. The USGS manages an international ice core facility in Denver, Colorado, and 

has numerous studies devoted to understanding the natural variability of climate and its attendant 

changes and to providing context for the development of mitigation and adaptation strategies. 

The Ice Core Laboratory is just one example of the services provided by the USGS to the 

scientific community engaged in understanding the Earth’s climate history. Another good 

example of the climate services provided by the USGS is the Department of the Interior’s 

network of regional Climate Science Centers. These centers are staffed by the USGS and have 

research and information delivery capabilities designed to respond to the needs of natural 

resource managers.

Department of State (DOS)

Stratospheric ozone depletion has been recognized as a critical health and environmental 

problem for almost three decades. Under Department of State (DOS) leadership, the United 

States worked to negotiate international agreements to phase out ozone-depleting substances, 

which are expected to lead to a recovery of the ozone layer by the middle of this century. In 2009 

these treaties became the first to achieve universal ratification; 197 countries, including the 

United States, have ratified both the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol. The State 

Department makes annual contributions to the Vienna Convention’s efforts on scientific 

monitoring of the ozone layer.

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Figure 3: The IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report is comprised of the contributions from the three working 

groups: (1) The Physical Science Basis (Sept 2013, http://climatechange2013.org/); (2) Impacts, Adaptation & 

Vulnerability (Mar 2014, http://ipcc-wg2.gov/AR5/report/); and (3) Mitigation (Apr 2014, 

http://mitigation2014.org), as well as a Synthesis Report that will be released in Oct 2014.

The IPCC, which was established by the WMO and the United 

Nations Environment Program (UNEP), held its first session in 1988. 

This organization serves as an intergovernmental forum to assess 

scientific, technical, and socioeconomic information relevant for the 

understanding of climate change, its potential impacts, and options for 

adaptation and mitigation. In doing so, the Panel draws on the 

expertise of thousands of scientists and technical experts. The IPCC is 

currently organized into three working groups, which examine (1) the 

state of the science, (2) impacts, adaptation and vulnerability, and (3) 

mitigation. In 2013-14, the IPCC completed its Fifth Assessment 

Report, which is comprised of the three working group contributions 

listed above, as well as a Synthesis Report [see image]. In addition to 

preparing assessment reports, the IPCC also contributes to 

international negotiations through preparation and review of special 

reports and development of methodologies requested by the United 

Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

On the climate services front, the State Department supports the work 

being led by NOAA colleagues to ensure that the WMO’s Global 

Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) gets set-up smoothly and 

provides real value-added to the climate service domain.

In addition to its primary role in the organizations listed above, DOS is 

active in several relevant Federal interagency processes, including the 

Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and Sustainability 

Figure 4: The IPCC’s Fifth 

Assessment Report is 

comprised of the 

contributions from the 

three Working Groups (1) 

The Physical Science Basis 

[Sept 2013], (2) Impacts, 

Adaptation & 

Vulnerability – released in 

two volumes [Mar 2014], 

(3) Mitigation [Apr 2014], 

and (4) Synthesis Report 

[Oct 2014].

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(CENRS) of the National Science and Technology Council, the Subcommittee on Global Change 

Research (SGCR) and the broader U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), several of 

its interagency Working Groups, as well as US Group on Earth Observations (USGEO) 

subcommittee and its interagency International Working Group. The CENRS was established in 

1993 to coordinate domestic scientific programs. USGCRP was created in 2001 to “integrate 

Federal research on global change and climate change” across 13 Federal agencies (from 2001-

2008, USGCRP was known as the Climate Change Science Program, or CCSP). In addition to 

the above, DOS responsibilities include, but are not limited to, international aspects of food 

security, disaster warnings and assistance, WMO (including the recently launched Global 

Framework for Climate Services) and UNEP activities (including the Climate and Clean Air 

Coalition), and international meteorological and Earth observing programs. More information 

available at http://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/syr/

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

Interagency Collaborative Research Programs and Projects 

U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP)

The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP, http://www.globalchange.gov/agencies)

is a Federal program mandated by Congress that coordinates and integrates global change 

research across 13 Federal agencies to most effectively and efficiently serve the Nation and the 

world. Through interagency partnerships and collaborations with leading experts, USGCRP 

works to advance climate science and improve the understanding of how global change is 

impacting society, both today and into the future.

The vision laid out in USGCRP’s National Global Change Research Plan 2012–2021: A 

Strategic Plan for the U.S. Global Change Research 

Program (http://www.globalchange.gov/browse/reports/national-global-change-research-plan2012%E2%80%932021-strategic-plan-us-global-change "the 2012–2021 Strategic Plan") 

maintains a clear emphasis on advancing global change science, but it also calls for a 

strengthened focus on ensuring USGCRP science informs real-world decisions and actions. 

USGCRP’s four strategic goals are to:

1. Advance Science - Advance scientific knowledge of the integrated natural and human 

components of the Earth system to understand climate and global change.

2. Inform Decisions - Provide the scientific basis to inform and enable timely decisions on 

adaptation and mitigation.

3. Conduct Sustained Assessments - Build sustained assessment capacity that improves 

the Nation’s ability to understand, anticipate, and respond to global change impacts and 

vulnerabilities.

4. Communicate and Educate - Advance communication and education to broaden public 

understanding of global change and develop the scientific workforce of the future.

For more information, please refer to http://www.globalchange.gov/

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NOAA/NESDIS

National Centers for Environmental Information/Center for Weather and Climate

formerly known as the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

Explaining Extreme Events of 2014 from a Climate Perspective. For the fourth year, CWC 

scientists are collaborating with their colleagues across the globe to examine the causes of certain 

extreme weather and climate events. Scientists from CWC served as part of the team of lead 

editors for the report, entitled “Explaining Extreme Events from a Climate Perspective” and 

published as a supplement to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. The report 

continues to grow, and this year 34 different research teams from around the world contributed to 

the peer-reviewed report that examined the causes of 30 extreme events that occurred on all 

seven continents during 2014. In addition to investigating the causes of these extreme events, 

these reports include multiple analyses of a single event, allowing scientists to compare and 

contrast the strengths and weaknesses of their various analytic methods. Despite the different 

strategies, there was considerable agreement between the assessments of the same events, 

especially for heatwaves. By further developing the ability to put extreme weather and climate 

events into the longer-term context of climate change, NCEI is helping provide the public with 

the information needed to make decisions about effectively minimizing and preparing for the 

impacts of these events.

An Independent Record of Global Warming. In collaboration with researchers from the 

University of South Carolina, the University of Colorado, and the University of Bern in 

Switzerland, NCEI developed a compilation of temperature records based on data from ice cores, 

corals, and lake sediment layers that revealed a pattern of global warming from 1880 to 1995 

comparable to the global warming trend recorded by thermometers. While the thermometerbased global surface temperature record provides meaningful evidence of global warming over 

the past century, it is critical to have independent analyses to verify that record, because it can be 

affected by such things as land-use changes, shifts in station locations, and variations in 

instrumentation. For this analysis, the team used environmentally sensitive proxies to compile a 

temperature record spanning 130 years that is independent from thermometer-based records. The 

research, which was detailed in “Global Warming in an Independent Record of the Past 130 

Years,”(http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/news/independent-evidence-confirms-global-warminginstrument-record) published in Geophysical Research Letters, resolved some of the uncertainty 

associated with thermometer records.

Regional Surface Temperatures for Six Continents and the Arctic. NCEI scientists helped 

construct a one-of-a-kind synthesis and analysis of temperatures over the last 2,000 years for six 

different continents and the Arctic. This effort is part of a large international effort under the 

auspices of the Past Global Changes Programme of the International Geosphere-Biosphere 

Programme. These reconstructions cover the last millennium on annual-to-decadal timescales 

and extend into the first millennium of the Common Era, which began in 1 A.D., on annual-tomulti-decadal timescales. To date, scientists have produced 2,000 year-long annual-to-decadal 

temperature time series for the hemispheres and the globe, but not at the continental scale. 

For this project, NCEI scientists served as group leaders for the North American regional 

reconstruction and as part of the core writing team for the highly cited paper, “Continental-scale 

temperature variability during the last two millennia” in Nature Geoscience. NCEI also served as 

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the data hub for the entire effort, producing state-of-the-art proxy and reconstruction datasets for 

the Common Era. Overall, this effort greatly extended the record of past climate and explicitly 

characterized uncertainties in the reconstructions. With these data, scientists will be able to better 

understand extremes in annual to decadal temperature fluctuations over the past 2,000 years in a 

way that is not possible using the instrumental record alone.

National Centers for Environmental Information / Center for Coasts, 

Oceans, and Geophysics 

Sea Surface Temperature Datasets. The Niño 3.4 index is an important measure of El Niño 

Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions, which NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center uses to 

support ENSO monitoring and forecasting. The Niño 3.4 index is calculated based on two NCEI 

datasets: the Optimum Interpolation Sea Surface Temperature (OISST, 

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sst/) dataset and the Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface 

Temperature (ERSST, https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/marineocean-data/extendedreconstructed-sea-surface-temperature-ersst-v3b) dataset. In 2013, scientists found that monthly 

Niño 3.4 indices calculated from the two datasets differed by as much as 0.5°C in some ENSO 

events. Such large differences complicate the monitoring and prediction of current and future 

ENSO conditions, so NCEI scientists analyzed the datasets and computational methods of the 

index to identify the causes of the differences.

NCEI completed several experiments on the data involving the integration of satellite 

observations into ERSST and the analysis of bias adjustment methodologies in both OISST and 

ERSST. These analyses found that the major cause of the difference was the bias adjustment 

applied to the satellite sea surface temperature measurements used to produce the OISST dataset. 

By accounting for these differences, NCEI not only verified the quality of the data analyses, but 

also provided an objective basis for users to select the appropriate sea surface temperature 

product.

Pathfinder Sea Surface Temperature (PSST, 

http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/SatelliteData/pathfinder4km/) is a high-resolution, long time series of 

satellite sea surface temperature data. This operational reference environmental data record 

(REDR) is a primary source of information for numerous regional and global marine resource 

efforts, e.g., applications such as coral reef stress monitoring, local habitat characterization, as 

well as basic physical oceanographic work. The PSST REDR is recognized and utilized by the 

community as an authoritative source of information.

World Ocean Atlas. NCEI scientists have worked to construct the World Ocean Atlas, which 

contains objectively analyzed climatological fields of in situ temperature, salinity, oxygen, and 

other measured variables at standard depth levels for various compositing periods for the world 

ocean. Regional climatologies (https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/OC5/regional_climate/) for the 

Greenland, Iceland, and Norwegian Seas, the Nordic Seas and Northern North Atlantic, the 

Arctic, the East Asian Seas, and the Gulf of Mexico, were created from the Atlas, providing a set 

of high resolution mean fields for temperature and salinity.

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NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)

The mission of climate research activities within NOAA/OAR is to monitor and understand 

Earth's climate system in order to predict the potential long-term changes in global climate as 

well as shorter-term climate variations that are of societal and economic importance. More 

information on OAR’s climate research is available at: http://www.noaa.gov/climate.html

To achieve this mission, climate research across OAR is structured to support the long-term goal 

of Climate Adaptation and Mitigation described in NOAA’s Next-Generation Strategic Plan 

(NGSP). The NGSP identifies four Objectives under the Goal: (1) Improved scientific 

understanding of the changing climate system and its impacts; (2) Assessments of current and 

future states of the climate system that identify potential impacts and inform science, service, and 

stewardship decisions; (3) Mitigation and adaptation efforts supported by sustained, reliable, and 

timely climate services; and (4) A climate-literate public that understands its vulnerabilities to a 

changing climate and makes informed decisions.

To meet these Objectives, OAR’s research is executed and delivered through a network of 

NOAA line offices, laboratories and cooperative institutes, programs, and university-based 

partnership activities. Broadly, OAR’s laboratories and cooperative institutes contribute, both 

directly and indirectly, to all four Objectives. OAR’s Climate Program Office (CPO) is the 

strategy lead for the NGSP Climate Goal, and it provides resources, programmatic oversight, and 

coordination to ensure NOAA’s climate research activities proceed in an integrated and costeffective manner. In these roles, CPO brings together and maintains relationships across NOAA 

laboratories, cooperative institutes, and university-based partners. OAR’s laboratories and 

cooperative institutes work in tandem with CPO to ensure NOAA meets its aim of an informed 

society anticipating and responding to climate and its impacts.

Specific aims of research conducted under the Goal’s Objective of improved scientific 

understanding include:

• Describe and understand the state of the climate through sustained atmospheric and 

oceanic observations and research related to global distributions, trends, sources and sinks 

of atmospheric constituents that are capable of forcing change in the climate of the Earth

• Understand and predict climate variability and change from weeks to decades to centennial 

timescales

• Conduct advanced mathematical modeling of the climate and Earth systems, including 

natural climate variability, anthropogenic climate change, weather and hurricane forecasts, 

El Niño prediction, and stratospheric ozone depletion to improve the prediction of climate 

phenomena 

• Sustain the observing systems essential for climate, oceanographic monitoring, and data 

management

• Conduct physical process research to advance a seamless suite of information and forecast 

products

• Understand how decision makers use climate information to improve the ability of society 

to plan for and respond to climate variability and change.

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NOAA/OAR Laboratories and Programs

Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML)

AOML conducts mission oriented scientific research that seeks to understand the physical, 

chemical, and biological characteristics and processes of the ocean and atmosphere, both 

separately and as a coupled system. The Laboratory's research theme related to oceans and 

climate includes interdisciplinary scientific investigations of the physics of ocean currents and 

water properties, and on the role of the ocean in climate, extreme weather events, and 

ecosystems. The tools used to carry out these studies range from sensors on deep ocean moorings 

to satellite-based instruments to measurements made on research and commercial shipping 

vessels and autonomous vehicles, and include data analysis and numerical modeling as well as 

theoretical approaches. This includes stewardship of oceanic measurements relevant for climate, 

including custodianship of major data sets, development and deployment of new sampling 

methods, new analysis tools, and carrying out long-term consistent environmental measuring 

programs.

In an effort to better understand and forecast climate, the Atlantic Oceanographic and 

Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) contributes to the maintenance of the global Argo program 

(a global array of 3,000 vertically profiling floats), the global drifter program (which maintains a 

global array of more than 1500 surface drifters), the expendable bathythermograph program (the 

deploys more than 8000 XBTs each year and processes more than 14,000 XBTs each year). 

AOML collaborates with the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) to monitor 

decadal-scale changes in a suite of physical, chemical, and biological parameters over the full 

water column, such as carbon dioxide uptake, ocean temperature, and circulation (e.g. Global 

Repeat Hydrographic/CO2/Tracer (GO-SHIP) surveys in Support of CLIVAR and Global 

Carbon Cycle objectives: Carbon Inventories and Fluxes program). In addition AOML maintains 

time series observations of the Florida Current and Deep Western Boundary Current (Western 

Boundary Time Series program) and the Deep Western Boundary Current in the South Atlantic 

(the Southwest Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Array); these programs contribute to 

the national and international programs designed to measure the meridional overturning 

circulation in the Atlantic Ocean which is the large scale ocean circulation that redistributes heat, 

fresh water and carbon north and south in the ocean. AOML manages these observational 

programs and conducts ocean circulation research on data collected through them. All of these 

programs are major contributors to the World Climate Research Programme’s Climate 

Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) Experiment and the Global Ocean Data Assimilation 

Experiment. Combined with satellites, these data provide a quantitative description of the 

changing state of the ocean and the patterns of ocean climate variability from months to decades, 

including heat, freshwater and carbon storage and transport.

In FY15, AOML plans to increase understanding of the ocean's role in climate through the 

stewardship of long term ocean observations, analysis of observations and models and numerical 

simulation of ocean circulation induced changes to climate. For example, the Physical 

Oceanography Division (PHOD) of AOML will continue to show that the variation of surface 

and subsurface ocean temperature and salinity is important to and linked with the Atlantic 

meridional overturning circulation (AMOC), hurricane intensification and fisheries productivity 

on climate time scales.

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Air Resources Laboratory (ARL)

To provide a sound scientific basis for understanding climate variability and change, the Air 

Resources Laboratory (ARL) contributes to two land-based reference observing networks: the 

U.S. Climate Reference Network (measuring surface climate variables) and the Surface Energy 

Budget Network, and to the Global Climate Observing System Reference Upper-Air Network 

(GRUAN).

ARL also provides analyses of variability and change in the boundary layer, free troposphere and 

stratosphere, with an emphasis on atmospheric temperature, stability, and circulation and on 

clouds. ARL has long-standing and internationally-recognized expertise using radiosonde 

observations, often combined with satellite observations or climate model results, to understand 

global upper-airchanges on diurnal to multi-decadal time scales. In addition, ARL has developed 

long-term datasets using model analysis and observed rainfall for air stagnation, and merged insitu data and satellite observations for dust storm climatology. 

In FY16, ARL will:

• Continue to provide maintenance and testing of existing technologies at the climate 

reference networks and evaluate new technologies;

• Examine the impact of extreme events, such as a late spring freeze and mid-summer 

droughts, on the seasonal energy budgets of carbon and water in eastern hardwood 

deciduous forests.

• Continue to provide leadership for guiding the full implementation of the GRUAN;

• Continue using radiosonde observations to evaluate models of the global carbon cycle 

and to evaluate other observational approaches to identify boundary layer structures and 

variations;

Continue analysis of the variability and trends in the climate system, interactions between 

climate and air chemistry, and the performance of operational and research models. 

Climate Program Office (CPO)

CPO manages a climate observations program and NOAA’s largest competitive research 

program that funds high-priority science to achieve its mission to advance scientific 

understanding, monitoring, and prediction of climate and its impacts to enable effective 

decisions. CPO’s position at the intersection of the climate research, observation, monitoring, 

modeling, and decision science communities enables it to lead a balanced, mission-driven 

research agenda and forge partnerships that enhance society’s ability to manage risks, enhance 

resilience, and adapt to a changing climate. CPO provides strategic guidance and coordination of 

NOAA’s climate science and services programs, and integrates them with the efforts of NOAA 

laboratories and external communities.

CPO also supports multi-disciplinary research and assessments that help communities better plan 

and respond to climate change and variability. CPO-supported research is conducted in regions 

across the United States, at national and international scales, and globally. 

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One of CPO’s core missions is to develop and sustain a global in situ climate observing system 

with partners such as AOML, PMEL, and NESDIS NOAA’s instruments are a vital part of an 

international system to monitor Earth’s climate and provide data for NOAA research, modeling, 

predictions, and forecasts. CPO leverages climate science capacity and capabilities to provide 

Americans with critically needed early warning systems that are timely and relevant for 

stakeholders at a range of scales spatially (local to global) and over time (weeks to decades) and 

include the effects of changing climate conditions on extreme weather events.

CPO will continue to support modeling, research, analysis, and data collection aimed at gaining a 

better understanding of climate processes. These activities are essential steps toward delivering 

climate prediction and assessment products for risk management and decision-making. CPO will 

also sustain grant programs that advance the knowledge and capacity of decision makers to 

assess risk, prepare for, and respond to the impacts of climate variability and change.

FY 16 Plans:

• Execute the OAR-NWS MOU that establishes a strategy between NWS and OAR to ensure 

NOAA meets the growing societal demand for climate information through improved 

modeling and predictions as well as development of applications and tools for enhanced 

decision support services.

• Evaluate forecast skill from the first year of experimental Week-3-4 temperature and 

precipitation outlooks and continue development of products; transition of Week-3-4 

prediction tool based on Climate Test Bed project outcomes to operations.

• Support scientific advancements in understanding of tropical convection, the coupled oceanatmosphere-land-ice system, and persistent model biases (e.g., DYNAMO, AMOC, and 

Pacific Ocean Biases).

• As an element of its suite of observation systems and partnerships, develop the plan for the 

Tropical Pacific Observing System 2020 projects which will support improved ENSO 

predictions as well as weather forecasts.

• Increase engagement with public and private partners to understand their vulnerability to 

extremes of weather and climate to help develop information needs and options for 

adaptation and mitigation.

• Expand the Climate Resilience Toolkit to offer map layers showing climate-related stressors, 

people and assets impacted, and climate projections and to facilitate knowledge sharing 

between climate experts and stakeholders in businesses and communities.

Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL)

The Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) continues to make unparalleled contributions to 

the scientific understanding of climate change through its global atmospheric monitoring 

program, field missions to study atmospheric processes, laboratory studies, modeling work. 

ESRL’s Chemical Sciences Division (CSD) climate research provides an improved predictive 

capability through a better understanding of the connections between emissions, atmospheric 

composition, and Earth’s climate system. Research is focused on addressing two of the greatest 

uncertainties in current climate models: water vapor and aerosols (airborne fine particles), in 

addition to ongoing work on non-CO2 greenhouse gases. 

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The ESRL Global Monitoring Division (GMD) conducts sustained observations and research 

related to global distributions, trends, sources and sinks of atmospheric constituents such as 

greenhouse and other trace gases, aerosols, ozone, a that are capable of forcing change in Earth’s 

climate. This research and long-term observations are used worldwide to advance climate 

projections and provide scientific, policy-relevant, decision-support information to enhance 

society's ability to plan and respond to change. 

Physical Sciences Division (PSD) strives to interpret the causes of observed climate variation, 

and advance the understanding, parameterization, and measurement of climate-relevant physical 

processes. This knowledge is used to improve climate models and forecasts and develop new 

climate products that better serve the needs of the public and decision-makers.

All ESRL Divisions place a high priority on communicating the results of their research in 

decision-support information products to underpin national and international decision-making. 

Their contributions include leadership and extensive participation in state-of-understanding 

national and international assessments on climate.

FY 16 Plans:

• Carry out the Shale Oil and Natural Gas Nexus (SONGNEX) investigation using 

NOAA’s “flying chemical laboratory” aboard the NOAA P-3 aircraft

• Execute a complementary airborne study of Fugitive Emissions concentrating on 

methane and other GHGs aboard the NOAA DHC6 aircraft.

• Analyze data from the SENEX and SEAC4RS field missions to understand climate 

effects of emissions, atmospheric chemistry, and transport in the southeastern U.S.

• Develop new prototype systems for regional drought diagnosis and prediction.

• Develop large ensemble, multi-model, high resolution global modeling ability to 

resolve high impact extreme events: heat waves, droughts, heavy precipitation.

• Develop climate and weather guidance to reduce and manage drought and floods 

impacts on watershed restoration.

• Provide an integrated database for the International Arctic System for Observing the 

Atmosphere (IASOA). IASOA is a consortium of 10 sentinel Arctic Observatories 

that collect a wide range of detailed measurements relevant to weather and climate. 

This activity will support the Polar Prediction Project.

• Lead development of International Arctic science focus groups integrating 

information on the environmental state of clouds, radiation, surface-atmosphere 

exchanges, trace gases, black carbon and regional predictions in the Arctic region.

• Continue development of Arctic atmospheric observatories to obtain high-latitude 

climate data.

• Engage in diagnostic studies to enhance understanding of the two-way linkages 

between the Arctic region and the lower latitudes to improve prediction

• Continue long-term observations of atmospheric composition, providing annual 

updates of CarbonTracker, the NOAA Annual Greenhouse Gas Index (a national 

climate indicator), methane climatologies, CO2 trends (daily updates; a national 

climate indicator), the Ozone-Depleting Gas Index, GlobalView, and other long-term 

atmospheric composition data sets and products. 

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Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL)

Over the last half century in general, and the last few years in particular, GFDL has demonstrated 

world leadership in pushing the boundaries of climate prediction and projections of climate 

change. Through direct participation in producing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate 

Change (IPCC) 2007 Assessment and the Administration’s Climate Change Science Program 

Synthesis and Assessment Reports, GFDL’s premier climate science capacity and recent 

investment in computer model infrastructure allow NOAA to deliver essential climate prediction 

information at the regional and local level and provide an invaluable and unique opportunity for 

the Nation to make critical progress in global change science. GFDL has delivered model output 

to the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5). Four model streams have been specifically 

designed for the climate integrations needed to address the major climate science challenges. All 

four streams are based on CM2.1, a GFDL coupled climate model with an atmospheric model 

resolution of 200km and an ocean model resolution of 100km. CM2.1 was considered among the 

highest quality models used in the previous IPCC Assessment Report, AR4, and was used again 

in AR5. Nearly 200 terabytes of model output was submitted to the 5th Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) for use in AR5. The four modeling streams are:

1. Decadal prediction experiments to better understand physical processes.

2. Earth System Models (ESMs), emphasizing biogeochemical carbon-climate feedbacks 

through the use of a closed-carbon cycle. 

3. Coupled climate models (CM3) with more realistic, self-consistent but complex atmospheric 

physics and chemistry than in CM2.1. 

4. High-resolution atmospheric models at 50km and 25km resolution forced by future ocean 

states.

GFDL scientists continue to play an active role in AR5, and in some instances lead, in: model 

inter-comparison and model simulation analysis activities; submission of model data, quality 

control and archiving; analyses of the data outputs and inferences about the climate system.

These activities will lead to a number of peer-reviewed publications based on the CMIP5 

database of model output. GFDL has also made significant contributions, through highresolution model experiments, to the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment 

Program (NARCCAP), and GFDL model experiments and science results were also used in the 

recently released USGCRP National Climate Assessment. Significant progress in model 

development is expected in FY15 as the four modeling streams outlined above are unified into a 

new coupled model called CM4. New very high-resolution climate and Earth System models are 

being developed and applied to address scientific questions regarding the impact of atmospheric 

composition and ocean eddies on the climate system as well as regional-to-local impacts of 

climate variability and change on marine ecosystems.

Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL)

The Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) conducts climate research and 

modeling focused on the region of the Laurentian Great Lakes, which is shared by the USA and 

Canada. Investigation of impacts of climate change on hydrologic resources in the Great Lakes 

began during the late 1980s, and has been considerably overhauled in recent years. Hydrologic 

models with one-way driving of the surface by the atmosphere have been replaced by regional 

climate models with two-way coupling of the atmosphere to both land and water surfaces. The 

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older generation of this type of model, the Coupled Hydrosphere-Atmosphere Research Model 

(CHARM) is being replaced by a newer version based on the Weather Research and Forecasting 

(WRF) model.

Of particular interest is the influence of climate and climate change on water quantity in the 

Great Lakes basin, and atmospheric and climatic research at GLERL are coordinated with 

hydrologic study, as well as research on the dynamics of motion and thermodynamics of the 

lakes and their ice. In addition, GLERL has expertise in the dynamics of nutrient loading in 

rivers, and on the interaction among these nutrients, water temperature and dynamics, and the 

biota of the lower and upper food web, leading to end-to-end capability in the physical, chemical, 

and biological aspects of this regional Earth system.

National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

NSSL scientists have collaborated with the NOAA NWS Storm Prediction Center to determine 

the observed climatology of severe thunderstorms in the U.S. and to explore different strategies 

for producing reliable seasonal predictions of severe weather. They have also worked with the 

international community to develop climatologies for other parts of the globe. In addition, they 

have examined data from different climate-projection studies, together with known relationships 

between environmental parameters and severe-weather occurrence, to hypothesize how severeweather occurrence and intensity might change in different climate scenarios. 

Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory

The Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) contributes to the advancement our 

understanding of the impacts of climate variability and change through a long-term observations 

program that supports robust climate research. Key observational components include: 

The Global Tropical Moored Buoy Array (GTMBA) was developed by PMEL in partnership 

with NOAA’s Climate Program Office and multiple international partners. PMEL now maintains 

both the PIRATA and RAMA Arrays in the Tropical Atlantic and Indian Oceans, respectively. 

The TAO/TRITON Array, the original component of the GTMBA, has been transitioned from 

PMEL to NWS/National Data Buoy Center. Moored buoys in the GTMBA report daily values of 

surface meteorological parameters and subsurface temperatures and salinity values via satellite 

for use by the NWS Climate Prediction Center and climate researchers world-wide. 

PMEL contributes to the maintenance of the global Argo Float Array, through an international 

partnership under the direction of NOAA’s Climate Program Office and in conjunction with U.S. 

Argo partners Scripps Institute of Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the 

University of Washington, and AOML. PMEL scientists deploy floats, support the addition of 

new measurement and increased depth capabilities of Argo floats, conduct research on 

improving quality control of the Argo data. PMEL and CPO are co-managing the development 

of Deep Argo floats, extending the depth range of Argo floats from 2,000 meters to 6,000 meters. 

PMEL scientists support the OceanSITES program of global moored ocean reference stations for 

climate, maintaining two moored platforms in the North Pacific, at the Kuroshio Extension 

Observatory (32.3o

N 144.5oE) in the NW Pacific Ocean and at Ocean Station Papa (50oN 

145oW) in the NE Pacific Ocean.

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In conjunction with the International CLIVAR program, PMEL conducts ocean research on a 

global scale to monitor decadal-scale changes in a suite of physical, chemical, and biological 

parameters over the full water column, such as carbon dioxide uptake, ocean temperature, and 

circulation.

PMEL climate researchers are active in the Arctic region, using atmospheric models to predict 

long-term sea-ice extent and providing information on potential impacts to ecosystem managers 

and local communities on Arctic change. PMEL scientists, working with the National Marine 

Fisheries Service, also conduct research on the impacts of ocean climate change on marine 

resources, conducting research on ocean acidification and on the impact of ocean and climate 

change on North Pacific fishery and marine mammal populations.

U.S Department of Agriculture

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) funding supports research projects that 

collect, analyze and utilize short and long-term weather and climate data as a base of information 

for the projection and prediction of climatic trends related to environmental impacts on agroecosystems, forests, and rangelands and the development of adaptation and mitigation strategies 

for natural resources and production management. Research, education and extension projects 

address the contribution of human activities, soil management, and crop and animal production 

to atmospheric greenhouse gases. Broader areas of study involve climate variability, carbon, 

nitrogen and water cycling, and their role in global change. The impact of changes in UV 

radiation and ozone level studies also fit into this broad global category.

Historical climate changes are derived from data gathering and modeling studies, enabling 

prediction of future crop production and irrigation needs. NIFA funding supports studies on the 

impact of climate and weather on food, feed, and fiber production and on natural resource 

protection and utilization. These studies relate to forest and agricultural plant growth, rangeland 

productivity, cropping system selection, livestock production practices and natural resource 

management.

Climate impacts on human, environmental and plant and animal health is also well represented in 

studies of both micro-and macro-climatic change. These involve studies dealing with the climatic 

impact on air quality, water quality and quantity and agriculture waste management related to 

agricultural practices and forest and urban development. Studies on climatic impact on nutrient 

cycling and carbon sequestration and emission are supported with NIFA funds. Research is also 

being supported to quantify the impact of climate change on the incidence and severity of 

drought, extreme heat and cold, emerging plant and animal diseases and pests, new invasive 

species, shifting biodiversity and ecosystem services, and adaptation to these events.

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) has funded projects on a wide variety of 

weather and climate related research in collaboration with other U.S. federal agencies. AFRI’s 

Climate Change Challenge Area is currently focused research areas are, regional climate studies 

in agriculture and forestry, plant breeding, animal health impacts, and mitigation and adaptation 

in agriculture and forestry. Other AFRI areas of research related to weather and climate change 

include organic agriculture, carbon cycling, agro-ecosystem modeling, biofuel feedstock 

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production and economic consequences of adaptation and mitigation strategies. Emerging areas 

of research include the impact of climate on environmental markets, food safety, and soil health.

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) has funded projects on a wide variety of 

weather and climate related research in collaboration with other U.S. federal agencies. AFRI’s 

Climate Change Challenge Area currently focused research areas are, regional climate studies in 

agriculture and forestry, plant breeding, animal health impacts, and mitigation and adaptation in 

agriculture and forestry. Other AFRI areas of research related to weather and climate change 

include organic agriculture, carbon cycling, agro-ecosystem modeling, biofuel feedstock 

production and economic consequences of adaptation and mitigation strategies. Emerging areas 

of research include the impact of climate on environmental markets, food safety, and soil health.

United States Geological Survey

Water Resources Monitoring. The effects of warming temperatures on water resources are 

among the most certain and costly consequences of climate change in some regions of the United 

States, and water resources information should be an important component of (or closely linked 

with) a new national climate services program. The USGS is the nation’s water resource 

monitoring agency, with one or more offices in every State and a National stream and 

groundwater monitoring network that supports water management efforts at State and local 

levels, as well as vast western water resources managed by two other Department of the Interior 

bureaus: the Bureau of Reclamation and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The USGS 

has a long-established hydroclimatology research program and is the primary Federal science 

agency for water resource information. The USGS monitors the quantity and quality of water in 

the Nation's rivers and aquifers and develops tools to improve the application of hydrologic 

information, including the effects of a changing climate. This broad, diverse mission cannot be 

accomplished effectively without the contributions of the Cooperative Water Program with the 

50 states. For more than 100 years, the Cooperative Program has been a highly successful costsharing partnership between the USGS and water-resource agencies at the State, local, and Tribal 

Nation levels. 

The USGS carries out research in climate change, regional hydrology, the carbon cycle, coastal 

erosion, and glaciology. The Water, Energy, and Biogeochemical Budgets (WEBB) program is 

studying processes controlling water, energy, and biogeochemical fluxes at five small research 

watersheds in the United States. This program includes research on the effects of atmospheric 

and climatic variables on watershed processes. There are also a number of ongoing studies to 

characterize trends in hydrologic data and to relate these trends to climatic variables. Researchers 

are also using global and regional climate models to enhance understanding of the potential 

effects of climate change and climate variability on U.S. land and water resources.

Glacier Monitoring. As part of its glaciology program, the USGS maintains an observation 

program on three benchmark glaciers representative of different climatic zones of the western 

United States, one in Washington, one on the south coast of Alaska, and one in the interior of 

Alaska. At each glacier, the program measures the winter snow accumulation, summer snow and 

ice ablation, air temperature, and runoff in the glacier basin. Beginning in 1959, this is the 

longest such record in North America. Analysis of this record is providing a greater 

understanding of climate variability and its effects on water resources of the western United 

States. The record clearly shows the effects of changing winter precipitation patterns associated 

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with atmospheric conditions in the northeast Pacific Ocean, including El Niño-La Niña events 

and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation.

To augment its glacier monitoring efforts, the USGS is using National Systems data to measure 

fluctuations of glaciers in Alaska, Washington, and Montana. Mountain glaciers are ideal 

subjects for these systems because they are remote, have an appropriate space scale, and require 

infrequent but repetitive observations. The observations have established a baseline of regional 

glacial conditions. The resulting archive of ongoing observations is being used to determine 

recent trends in glacier size and terminus location. In addition, techniques have been developed 

to generate derived products that provide critical glacial parameters, including DEMs, 

equilibrium line altitudes, and ablation rates. These products are being incorporated into a glacial 

runoff model of the South Cascade Glacier, Washington, where they are proving to be a valuable 

source of otherwise unavailable data.

Snow and Ice Studies. The USGS, in cooperation with BLM, is using a variety of remote 

sensing data to monitor the rapid wastage of the piedmont lobe of Bering Glacier, Alaska. 

Landsat, Radarsat, ICESat, and Ikonos observations show that Bering Glacier is retreating 

rapidly and thinning in an accelerating retreat from an advanced position that resulted from a 

major glacial surge in 1993-95. The satellite data and ground-based observations have been 

combined to determine the surface flow velocities and calving rates of the glacier and to monitor 

the expansion of Vitus Lake and Berg Lake—two large lakes whose boundaries include the 

glacier terminus. The rapid change in glaciation is having a large impact on nearby terrestrial and 

aquatic ecosystems.

Geological Investigations. The USGS has traditionally led the USGCRP projects devoted to 

understanding cycles in the Earth’s climate, abrupt climate change, ecological thresholds, and 

climate change in polar regions. These cycles are generally underrepresented in the available 

data from meteorological records. By combining paleoclimatic and instrumental data, USGS 

scientists have contributed 

substantially to understanding 

how past and current changes in 

the Earth’s climate affect water, 

land, and biological resources. 

Biological Indicators of 

Climatic Trends. The National 

Phenology Network, Breeding 

Bird Surveys, and Amphibian 

Research and Monitoring 

Initiative are examples of USGS 

biological science programs that 

provide national coverage and 

uniform protocols for reporting 

the occurrence of biological 

events that can augment 

analyses of changes in the 

physical climate system. 

Figure 5: Examples of USGS Potential Areas of Contribution

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USGS Role in National Climate Services. The USGS has several additional programs and 

projects that would directly support and complement an interagency national climate services 

program. The USGS develops global and regional climate models and contributes to 

international programs of model development (e.g., the WCRP and phase 3 of the Coupled 

Model Intercomparison Project [CMIP3]). It targets model applications to investigate past, 

present, and future climate change (mean and variability) and how those changes influence and 

are influenced by surface systems. Applications include surface and subsurface hydrology, 

terrestrial and marine ecosystems, glaciology, and wildland fire research. USGS model 

simulations are often targeted to specific natural resource response and management questions 

rather than production runs for activities such as the IPCC assessments. Its modeling activities 

are flexible, with quickly implemented experimental designs that are often modified through an 

iterative process involving cross-disciplinary researchers. 

The figure right depicts some of the potential areas of USGS collaboration and support toward a 

coordinated interagency national climate services program.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Science Mission Directorate, Earth Science Division

The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 calls for NASA to conduct activities in space to 

expand human knowledge of the Earth and of phenomena in the atmosphere and space. The 2010 

National Space Policy further states that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

(NASA) “shall conduct a program to enhance U.S. global climate change research and sustained 

monitoring capabilities, advance research into and scientific knowledge of the Earth by 

accelerating the development of new Earth observing satellites, and develop and test capabilities 

for use by other civil departments and agencies for operational purposes.” The NASA program 

on global climate change research is comprehensive, encompassing continuous interactions 

between satellite mission development and formulation, satellite data analyses, Earth system 

modeling, new technology, and state-of-the-art scientific knowledge for applications. Scientific 

research and data analysis are conducted through competitive peer-reviewed opportunities

offered through Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES) announcements.

NASA’s climate research program is unique because it encompasses the development of 

observational techniques and the instrument technologies needed to implement them; laboratory 

testing and demonstrations from an appropriate set of surface-, balloon-, aircraft-, and spacebased platforms; development and operation of satellite missions and production and 

dissemination of the data products resulting from these missions; research to increase basic 

process knowledge; incorporation of observations and research results into complex 

computational models that can be used to more fully characterize the present state of the 

environment and predict the future evolution of the Earth system; and development of 

partnerships with other national and international organizations that can use the generated 

information in environmental forecasting and in policy, business, and management decisions.

Satellite Missions. Satellites provide critical climate change measurements via global coverage,

frequent sampling in both space and time, and near-uniform accuracy and stability. NASA 

initiated, and in selected cases has sustained for more than a decade, many global, high accuracy, 

well-calibrated data records, such as total solar irradiance at the top of the atmosphere; Arctic 

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Ocean sea ice extent and thickness; Antarctic and Greenland mass change and other 

characteristics; global sea level and global ocean surface vector wind; global ocean near-surface 

chlorophyll-a concentration; global land use and land cover; ozone in the stratosphere; and, 

global precipitation, including water vapor, rainfall and snow. These critical climate data records 

are a foundation for national and international studies of global and regional climate change, sea 

level rise, and study of the earth as a system. 

NASA has 11 on-orbit satellite missions related to climate services, as defined by this Federal 

Plan: Aqua, Aquarius/Satélite de Aplicaciones Científicas (SAC)-D, Aura, Cloud-Aerosol Lidar 

and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO), CloudSat, Global Precipitation 

Measurement (GPM), the International Space Station (ISS) - Cloud-Aerosol Transport System 

(CATS) and RapidScat payloads, Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM), Orbiting Carbon 

Observatory-2 (OCO-2), Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT), Soil Moisture Active Passive 

(SMAP) mission, and Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP). The Tropical 

Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), formerly on the list, was decommissioned April 15, 2015. 

OCO-2 was launched on July 2, 2014. ISS-RapidScat was launched on September 20, 2014, and 

installed on the ISS a few days later. CATS was launched on January 10, 2015, and also installed 

on the ISS. On January 31, 2015, SMAP was launched successfully and recently completed onorbit checkout, transitioning to nominal mission operations on May 11, 2015. SMAP is the first 

of the Tier 1 missions of the Decadal Survey. Table 1 lists the climate services themes supported 

by these missions.

Table 1. Correlation of NASA Earth Science Division operating satellite missions with OFCM 

themes of climate services. 

Satellite Launch Date Climate Services Theme

QuikSCAT Jun 1999 Climate Variability and Change

Aqua May 2002 Atmospheric Composition; Carbon Cycle; Climate 

Variability and Change; Water Cycle

Aura Jul 2004 Atmospheric Composition

CALIPSO Apr 2006 Atmospheric Composition; Water Cycle

CloudSat Apr 2006 Climate Variability and Change; Water Cycle

Aquarius Jun 2011 Climate Variability and Change; Water Cycle

OSTM Jun 2008 Climate Variability and Change; Water Cycle

Suomi NPP Oct 2011 Atmospheric Composition; Carbon Cycle; Climate 

Variability and Change; Water Cycle

GPM Feb 2014 Climate Variability and Change; Water Cycle

OCO-2 Jul 2014 Climate Variability and Change, Atmospheric 

Composition, Carbon Cycle

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ISS RapidScat Sept 2014 Climate Variability and Change

ISS CATS Jan 2015 Atmospheric Composition, Water Cycle

SMAP Jan 2015 Climate Variability and Change; Water Cycle

A daunting challenge in supporting the complexity of global and regional climate change science 

is the huge number of biological, chemical and physical variables that must be measured nearly 

simultaneously globally. To address this challenge, NASA has engineered constellations of 

satellites flying in close formation. For example, NASA’s Aura, CALIPSO, CloudSat, Aqua, and 

OCO-2 satellites, together with the Japanese Global Change Observation Mission 1–Water 

“Shizuku” (GCOM-W1), are called the “A-Train” constellation and produce an unprecedented 

quantity of data for atmospheric composition, dynamics and the water cycle. The time separation 

between the front and rear of the A-Train is 11 minutes, less than the lifetime of most clouds; 

this important feature allows researchers to utilize multi-satellite observations to examine 

processes related to cirrus cloud formation in large-scale models.

NASA has 4 satellite missions in development (Table 2) related to climate services, as defined 

by this Federal Plan, for launch from 2016 to 2020. Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 

(CYGNSS) is the first in the Earth Venture-class series of rapidly developed, cost-constrained 

small space missions, and is referred to as EVM-1 (Earth Venture Mission-1). Tropospheric 

Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) is the first in the Earth Venture-class series of 

instrument missions of opportunity that will fly as hosted payloads on commercial or 

government satellites. Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) is a Tier 2 Decadal 

Survey mission that was accelerated by the Climate Initiative to provide insight into the 

movement and distribution of Earth surface waters including both freshwater and oceans. Pre 

Aerosol, Clouds, and ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission has been directed to Goddard and is 

currently in pre-formulation.

Table 2. Correlation of NASA Earth Science Division missions in development with OFCM 

themes of climate services.

Satellite Planned Launch Climate Services Theme

CYGNSS 2016 Water Cycle

TEMPO nlt2023 Atmospheric Composition; Climate Variability 

and Change

SWOT 2020 Climate Variability and Change; Water Cycle

PACE 2022/2023 Carbon Cycle

NASA continues with the pre-formulation studies of Decadal Survey and other mission concepts 

such as Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO), Active Sensing 

of CO2 Emissions over Nights, Days, and Seasons (ASCENDS), Aerosol-Cloud-Ecosystem 

(ACE), GEOstationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE), Hyperspectral Infrared 

Imager (HyspIRI), Lidar Surface Topography (LIST), Precision and All-Weather Temperature 

and Humidity (PATH), Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment II (GRACE-II), Snow and 

Cold Land Processes (SCLP), Global Atmospheric Composition Mission (GACM) and Three2-113
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Dimensional Tropospheric Winds from Space-based Lidar (3-D Winds). Additionally, the Earth 

Science Technology Office (ESTO) makes significant investments in technology development 

activities directly addressing the priorities outlined in the Decadal Survey including the tiered 

missions as wells as Earth Venture through development of observation systems and information 

systems technologies. 

The following activities will be undertaken or accomplished in FY 2016.

• CYGNSS will complete environmental test and prepare for launch in earl FY17.

• TEMPO will continue its development, including instrument level integration and test. 

• SWOT will complete its Key Decisions Point – C (KDP-C) review and enter development.

• PACE will complete its Mission Concept Review (MCR) and Key Decision Point – A (KDPA) review and enter formulation.

• QuikSCAT will be decommissioned, and its cross-calibration role for other scatterometers 

transitioned to the RapidScat instrument on the International Space Station, which has also 

resumed production of ocean wind vectors data for operational use.

NASA Science Research

NASA’s Earth Science Research Program addresses complex, interdisciplinary Earth science 

problems in pursuit of a comprehensive understanding of the Earth system. The Research 

Program pioneers the use of both space-borne and aircraft measurements through its 

implementation of several elements: multi-disciplinary research and analysis, interdisciplinary 

research, data product generation, calibration and validation, airborne science, modeling and data 

assimilation, and enabling capabilities. Research and analysis (R&A) emphasizes the 

development of new scientific knowledge, including the analysis of data from NASA satellite 

missions and the development and application of complex models that assimilate these science 

data products and/or use them for improving predictive capabilities. 

The following research activities will be undertaken or accomplished in FY 2016:

• Continue expanding the supercomputing capacity to more than 4 quadrillion floating point 

operations per second (petaflops) for weather and climate modeling using the combination of 

CPUs and multi-core accelerator technologies such as Intel Phi and NVIDIA GPU 

processors. The storage system capacity will continue to grow to more than 40 petabytes to 

accommodate the data generated by high-resolution model simulations including the nature 

run for Observation System Simulation Experiment (OSSE), reanalysis for climate data 

record, and high-resolution climate projection downscalings.

• Increase the number of science data products delivered to Earth Observing System Data and 

Information System (EOSDIS).

• Continue operation of ground networks such as TOLNet, AERONET, and MPLNET for 

measuring time evolution of atmospheric trace constituents, including gases and aerosols.

• The Earth Venture Suborbital-2 (EVS-2) proposals have been reviewed and selections were 

made in November 2014. Of particular relevance because of their emphasis on atmospheric 

composition and its effect on meteorology include ObseRvations of Aerosols Above Clouds 

and Their IntEractionS (ORACLE), North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study 

(NAAMES), and Atmospheric Carbon and Transport – America (ACT-America). These new 

projects are in the process of getting started. The Earth Venture Suborbital-1 (EVS-1) 

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missions are finishing up and include the following research (observation investigations were 

mostly completed in FY14, some will continue into FY15, analysis of scientific data will 

continue in FY15): 

 The Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) EVS-1 investigation used two Global 

Hawk unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and the NASA WB-57 manned aircraft (2014 

only) around and above hurricanes. One Global Hawk payload was optimized for direct 

observations of the hurricane inner-core region. The other payload included sensors that 

measured important parameters in the region surrounding the storm to help improve our 

understanding of tropical cyclone genesis and intensification. HS3 results are being used 

to improve our ability to predict storm path and intensity. Over three years of 

measurements (2012-2014), HS3 performed 19 overflights of 9 named Atlantic tropical 

cyclones and also sampled several non-developing tropical waves and the Saharan Air 

Layer. Analysis of the data is ongoing in FY15 and will be completed in FY16.

 The Airborne Microwave Observatory of Subcanopy and Subsurface (AirMOSS) EVS-1 

investigation has finished its airborne flights using an ultra-high frequency synthetic 

aperture radar to measure high spatial resolution soil moisture to provide insight into the 

vegetation activity and the uptake of carbon dioxide. In FY16, the project will finish its 

work by analyzing collected data and model simulations to achieve its goal of reducing 

the uncertainty of global NEE (Net Ecosystem Exchange) estimates.

 The Deriving Information on Surface conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved 

Observations Relevant to Air Quality (DISCOVER-AQ) EVS-1 investigation uses 

airborne and ground-based measurements of trace gases and aerosols, correlated with 

satellite remote sensing measurements, to improve our ability to characterize and predict 

air quality. The project will continue efforts to characterize a variety of urban 

environments based on its observations in the Washington-Baltimore, Houston, 

Sacramento-Central Valley, and the Denver area completed in the 2011-2014 time 

period. 

• The second Earth Venture Instrument (EVI-2) selections were made in late FY14. The 

release of the third Earth Venture Instrument solicitation (EVI-3) was made in FY15 with 

selections expected in FY16. The selected mission from EVI-1 (TEMPO, to be hosted on 

a commercial geostationary satellite) received agency confirmation in FY15 and is now in 

the implementation phase.

• The Earth Venture Mission-2 (EVM-2) CYGNSS project has made significant progress. The 

science product algorithms are proceeding well and testing has started using the selected 

nature model. The satellite observatories and constellation has completed the detailed design 

and is beginning fabrication and test of flight hardware.

Department of Energy

Office of Science/ Biological and Environmental Research (BER) / Climate and 

Environmental Sciences Division (CESD)

CESD supports an integrated portfolio of basic research ranging from molecular to field scale 

studies with emphasis on the use of advanced computer models and multidisciplinary 

experimentation. As discussed, in http://science.energy.gov/ber/research/cesd/, CESD supports 

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three groups of research activities, i.e., atmospheric sciences, environmental biogeochemistry, 

and earth system modeling. These three groups exploit two DOE scientific user facilities that 

focus on atmospheric and environmental observations to advance predictive understanding.

The atmospheric research activities are comprised of the Atmospheric System Research (ASR) 

Program and the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility.

Together, the ASR Program and ARM facility strive to understand the physics and dynamics 

governing cloud, aerosol, and precipitation interactions as well as to advance an understanding of 

cloud evolution and radiative energy balance. As a world class observing capability, the ARM 

facility is comprised of a suite of radars, lidars, and in-situ observations of clouds, aerosols, and 

radiative transfer, supplemented by manned and unmanned aircraft. Permanent sites are located 

in the Southern Great Plains (Oklahoma), Arctic (Barrow), and eastern Atlantic (Azore Islands); 

there are three mobile facilities deployed for durations of 6 months to several years to conduct 

targeted research. Beginning in FY 2016, the ARM facility will begin to incorporate Large Eddy 

Simulations as an operational component of the SGP site.

The environmental investments within CESD are composed of the Terrestrial Ecosystem 

Program, Subsurface Biogeochemistry Program, and the Environmental Molecular Sciences 

Laboratory (EMSL) User Facility. These activities are designed to advance the ecological and 

hydrological sciences, in order to improve a predictive understand of the process interactions 

appropriate for land and climate and earth system modeling. Major field activities include 

decadal scale experiments associated with studies of Arctic permafrost, boreal systems, tropical 

ecology, and river basins, each with a modeling component that links to earth system 

predictability research.

CESD modeling investments include a major emphasis on Earth System Model development, 

model analysis, and integrated assessment. Driven in large part by DOE’s goal to advance 

computational hardware and software capabilities to support increasingly complex scientific 

challenges, DOE has emphasized the prediction of extreme events, scale aware physics, 

nonhydrostatic-hydrostatic dynamics, and impact assessments. The Advanced Climate Model for 

Energy (ACME) is a new modeling platform, initiated in FY 2014, with links to the Community 

Earth System Model (CESM). A human component was added to the ACME framework that 

incorporates the Global Change Assessment Model (GCAM).

National Science Foundation (NSF)

The National Science Foundation funds basic climate research, modeling, and process studies. 

This research portfolio includes support to individual investigators and collaborative groups, as 

well as funding for the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). NSF invests in the 

Community Earth System Model (CESM), a fully-coupled global climate model that provides 

state-of-the-art simulations of the Earth’s past, present, and future climate states. NSF also funds 

the supporting infrastructure for climate studies by making computing resources required to 

perform data-intensive simulations available for community use. 

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As a basic science funding agency, NSF does not

directly provide climate services to federal, state, and 

local agencies. But through its funding of basic 

science research, NSF contributes to the fundamental 

understanding of the climate system which is required 

for the provision of climate services.

Figure 6: The NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing 

Center provides advanced computing services to 

scientists studying a broad range of disciplines, 

including weather, climate, oceanography, air 

pollution, space weather, computational science, 

energy production, and carbon sequestration. It 

also houses a landmark data storage and 

archival facility that will hold, among other 

scientific data, unique historical climate records. 

Courtesy: University Corporation for 

Atmospheric Research

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EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND HOMELAND SECURITY

SERVICES

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Federal Emergency Management Agency

The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) authorizes 

the President to provide financial and other support to state, local, tribal, territorial, and insular 

area governments to support response, recovery, and mitigation efforts following a major 

emergency or disaster. Under the Stafford Act, when an incident occurs that overwhelms the 

resources of a state or tribe, and the governor or tribal leader requests federal disaster assistance, 

the President may issue a Stafford Act declaration of either an “emergency” or “major disaster”. 

This declaration triggers the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) authorities to 

provide and coordinate response and recovery assistance. The Federal government may also 

mobilize and deploy assets in anticipation of a formal request from the state for Federal support. 

Per the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA), FEMA leads and 

supports the Nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of 

preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation. PKEMRA also requires that each 

federal agency with responsibilities under the National Response Framework (NRF) develop 

operational plans to ensure a coordinated federal response. The NRF established 14 Emergency 

Support Functions (ESFs) that are comprised of departments and agencies with particular 

authorities, resources, capabilities, and expertise to coordinate sector-specific disaster response 

actions.

In 2011, the President directed the development of a new National Preparedness System (NPS) 

that includes a National Planning Framework for each of five mission areas - prevention, 

protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. These frameworks identify how the whole 

community will build and deliver the core capabilities required to address the threats that pose 

the greatest risks to our Nation. The President also directed the development of a Federal 

Interagency Operational Plan (FIOP) to support each of these frameworks and to describe how 

the Federal government will execute its responsibilities in support of state, local, tribal, and 

territorial efforts.

For purposes of this Federal Plan, Emergency Response and Homeland Security Services are those 

specialized meteorological services and facilities established to meet the requirements of Federal, 

state, and local agencies responding to natural disasters and security incidents. This category includes 

the use of atmospheric transport and dispersion (ATD) models for predicting the dispersion of 

airborne toxic substances; it also includes natural disaster monitoring and prediction services and the 

transport of water-borne toxic substances not included in basic services. For example, numerical 

weather prediction models used to forecast the path, intensity, and storm surge of landfalling tropical 

cyclones are part of basic services. Downstream models of the effects of a landfalling tropical cyclone 

on the infrastructure and population of a particular populated area could be included in this service 

t

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The FIOP for Response, for example, is an all-hazards plan based on a “maximum of maximum” 

scenario that includes multiple catastrophic incidents and cascading impacts, including a major 

earthquake, a major land-falling hurricane, and a nuclear incident. Such a scenario would occur 

over a large geographic area, affect millions of people, and require response and recovery 

capabilities from across the whole community to include government at all levels, public and 

private sector resources, non-governmental organizations, and individual citizens. The concepts 

and tasks outlined in the FIOP for Response are scalable, flexible, and adaptable and can be used 

regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity of incidents.

The mission of the FEMA is to support U.S. citizens and first responders to ensure that as a 

Nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect 

against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. In carrying out its role, FEMA works 

with the Federal scientific community and meteorological agencies to ensure that appropriate 

risk information for hazards, vulnerabilities, and consequences is used to execute this mission.

The Response Directorate within FEMA 

administers the National Hurricane 

Program (NHP), which provides tools, 

training and technical assistance to support 

local, state, and federal hurricane planning 

and response. The NHP conducts hurricane 

evacuation studies, provides hurricane 

decision support tools, and delivers 

hurricane planning and decision making 

training for government emergency 

managers. Under an Interagency 

Agreement between FEMA and the 

National Weather Service’s National 

Hurricane Center (NWS/NHC), the NHC 

builds and utilizes its SLOSH (Sea, Lake 

and Overland Surges from Hurricanes) storm surge model to provide planning and operational 

products to support storm surge risk analysis. The operational products are used to support state 

and local evacuation decisions and are used at all levels of government to prepare for the 

potential impacts and response. The planning products are used as the basis for the hazard 

analysis conducted Hurricane Evacuation Studies (HESs) and to assess the potential storm surge 

risk for a hurricane threat prior to the availability of the operational products.

As part of the NHP, FEMA also develops, operates, maintains and distributes the HURREVAC 

decision-support software tool to approximately 20,000 local and state government coastal 

emergency managers annually. HURREVAC combines real-time NHC forecast data with 

evacuation clearance times from the HESs to guide emergency managers as to when decisions on 

hurricane evacuations would need to be made to ensure evacuation is completed before the 

arrival of hazardous conditions. The software is also widely used as a situational awareness and 

briefing tool and as a common operating platform to view official NHC hurricane forecast and 

risk information.

Figure 1: FEMA’s interagency collaboration and support 

is key to disaster impact assessments and plans.

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The NHP supports training and technical assistance for emergency managers through 

coordination with between FEMA, the NHC, and other program partners. The NHC provides 

training materials and instructors for NHP hurricane planning and decision making courses 

taught at the NHC and at conferences and State Emergency Operations Centers. The NHC also 

directly supports the FEMA Hurricane Liaison Team (HLT), which ensures the rapid exchange 

of forecast and risk information between the NHC and the emergency management community.

FEMA has also deployed a permanent liaison to the National Weather Service’s Storm 

Prediction Center (NWS/SPC) to ensure similar information flow between SPC and the 

emergency management community regarding severe thunderstorm risks, primarily with respect 

to tornadoes and damaging winds.

The Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA) which manage the National Flood 

Insurance Program (NFIP) is looking to be part of IWRSS (Integrated Water Resources Science 

and Services) (P 2-139 Emergency Response and Homeland Security Services).

FEMA actively supports the OFCM-sponsored Working Group for Disaster Impact Assessments 

and Plans: Weather and Water Data (WG/DIAP) and the WG/DIAP’s efforts to develop and 

implement the National Plan for Disaster Impact Assessments which outlines the interagency 

procedures to coordinate and support the collection of perishable data after major storms. (see 

related COASTAL Act narrative on page 2-6) These data have applications in post-disaster mitigation activities, the NFIP flood hazard analysis, the FEMA National Hurricane Program 

hurricane, and other FEMA risk analysis activities, such as the Multi-Hazard Loss Estimation 

Methodology (HAZUS). The National Hurricane Program is the principal FEMA contact point 

for most meteorological matters, while the FEMA Risk Analysis Division is the primary contact 

for NFIP flood risk analysis.

U.S. Coast Guard

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) directly supports all Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 

missions. It provides DHS the broad authorities, capabilities, and partnerships necessary to 

accomplish its tasks in the maritime domain.

Coast Guard has three broad roles: Maritime Safety, Maritime Security, and Maritime 

Stewardship. Each USCG role is composed of several statutory missions. Each of the eleven 

statutory missions is listed below under the appropriate role.

• Maritime Safety Missions

 Marine Safety 

 Search and Rescue

• Maritime Security Missions

 Drug Interdiction

 Migrant Interdiction

 Defense Readiness

 Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security

• Maritime Stewardship Missions

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 Living Marine Resources

 Marine Environmental Protection

 Other Law Enforcement (Fisheries)

 Aids to Navigation

 Ice Operations

Most USCG missions support more than one role. For example, the Aids to Navigation mission 

primarily supports the Maritime Stewardship role by preventing pollution from vessel 

groundings and collisions, while facilitating the movement of people and goods. But this mission 

also supports our Maritime Safety Role by preventing accidents, injuries, and deaths. These 

interwoven roles and complementary missions call for Coast Guard personnel and resources that 

are similarly multi-mission capable. This characteristic of USCG people and platforms—their 

ability to perform multiple missions—brings greater effectiveness, insight, and agility to bear in 

any situation. It is a fundamental source of the Coast Guard’s strength. Support for 

meteorological operations and supporting research is detailed in other sections of this plan.

Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center

The IMAAC provides a single point for the coordination and dissemination of Federal dispersion 

modeling and hazard prediction products that represent the Federal position during actual or 

potential incidents involving hazardous atmospheric releases. Through plume modeling analysis, 

the IMAAC provides emergency responders, as well as public health and emergency managers 

and planners with predictions of hazards associated with atmospheric releases to aid in the 

decision making process to protect the public and the environment.

The IMAAC is managed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency 

Management Agency (FEMA) and supported by other federal departments and agencies 

including the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of 

Health and Human Services (HHS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The 

IMAAC Technical Operations Hub is operated by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency 

(DTRA). 

Decision makers and first responders need timely and accurate plume predictions to help guide 

emergency response decisions. The IMAAC provides a suite of plume modeling tools that 

incorporate meteorological, geographic and demographic data, as well as hazardous material 

information, to predict the transport and potential downwind consequences of biological, 

chemical, radiological/nuclear, and natural releases. The IMAAC experts are available 24/7 to 

produce detailed quality-assured model predictions, utilize observations and field measurement 

data to refine analyses, and assist decision makers in product interpretation. 

The IMAAC produces both technical analyses and briefing products tailored for communications 

to non-technical decision makers. The IMAAC plots show hazard areas, affected populations, 

potential casualties and/or fatalities, damage estimates, and health effect, public protective action 

and worker protection levels. The IMAAC utilizes NOAA National Weather Service’s 

meteorological observations as well as variety of other available numerical weather prediction 

models (NWP) for the plume products. During IMAAC activations, the IMAAC Technical 

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Operations Hub will consult with NOAA to determine the preferred higher-resolution forecast 

model for the event and will utilize that model if possible. 

The IMAAC has been used in response numerous real-world events, including chemical fires and 

train derailments, in-situ burns from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and sulfur dioxide volcanic 

emissions in Hawaii.

NOAA/National Weather Service

National Incident Management System and Emergency Support Functions 

NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) has derived responsibility to support the emergency 

operations of local, state, tribal, territorial, and insular area governments through the Robert T. 

Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988. Further the Department of 

Homeland Security’s (DHS) National Response Framework (NRF) mandated by Presidential 

Policy Direction 8 provides the context for how the Nation responds to disasters and emergencies 

through the establishment of a National Incident Management System and Emergency Support 

Functions to align key roles and responsibilities. This Framework describes specific authorities 

and best practices for managing incidents that range from the serious local to large-scale terrorist 

attacks or catastrophic natural disasters.

NWS Impact-based Decision Support Services (IDSS) are provided for National Special Security 

Events as designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security, to Department of Homeland 

Security (DHS) coordinated Special Event Assessment Rating events, and in response to 

Incidents of National Significance (e.g., Hurricane Sandy). NWS can deploy Incident 

Meteorologists (IMETs) and Emergency Response Specialists to provide onsite support for large 

wildfires and other homeland security concerns, as well as for accidental releases/spills of 

hazardous chemical, biological, or radioactive materials.

NOAA has an embedded meteorologist at FEMA Headquarters to provide real-time decision 

support to FEMA and other national government decision makers. In addition, the liaison (along 

with additional NWS meteorologists when necessary) will support activations at the National 

Response Coordination Center as a result of any major disaster or emergency. Similarly, NOAA 

has a liaison deployed to the DHS National Operations Center.

Post Storm Data Acquisition

NOAA NWS supports the OFCM-sponsored Working Group for Disaster Impact Assessments 

and Plans: Weather and Water Data (WG/DIAP) and its efforts to develop and implement the 

National Plan for Disaster Impact Assessments which outlines the interagency procedures to 

coordinate and support the collection of perishable data after major storms. NWS trains volunteer 

SKYWARN® weather spotters to help assess weather and flood incidents. NWS conducts field 

surveys of damage utilizing the Damage Assessment Toolkit

(https://apps.dat.noaa.gov/StormDamage/DamageViewer/ )and leverages NOAA aircraft and the 

USAF Auxiliary’s Civil Air Patrol for overflight reconnaissance. High resolution satellite 

imagery can also be acquired for major incidents. 

Data collected by the NWS contributes to Governors’ Disaster Declaration Requests, Preliminary 

Damage Assessment Reports and to FEMA’s evaluations. Data acquired by NOAA NWS is 

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shared through the WG/DIAP and officially published in NOAA's National Centers for 

Environmental Information’s (NCEI) Storm Data (http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html). 

FEMA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) and Wireless 

Emergency Alerts.

The NWS pushes watches, warnings, advisories, and special statements in Common Alerting 

Protocol (CAP) format to the FEMA IPAWS Alert Aggregator. Warnings which pose an 

“imminent threat” to the general public pass through IPAWS to commercial wireless carriers and 

are broadcast as a 90 character WEA message on WEA-capable devices. The message notifies 

the recipient of the alert type, expiration time, a brief description of the action to be taken, and 

name of the alert originator (i.e., NWS). Almost all wireless carriers provide the WEA service 

and the majority of devices on the market are now WEA- capable.

The NWS is actively collaborating with commercial wireless industry as well as Federal, 

emergency management, and academic partners in multiple Federal Communications 

Commission (FCC)-tasked working groups which have been tasked to identify possible future 

improvements to WEA.

The NWS and FEMA have made NWS CAP messages available over FEMA IPAWS and 

multiple NWS dissemination systems for repackaging and redistribution by alert distribution 

partners. The NWS also continues working with FEMA, the FCC, broadcast industry, and related 

partners on solutions which would provide compatibility between NWS-produced CAP and 

Emergency Alert System (EAS) signals broadcast by NOAA Weather Radio (NWR), so that 

NWS-CAP could be used to activate EAS.

NOAA Weather Radio (NWR).

NWR is used as a reliable and redunant means of communicating weather-related warnings 

directly to the public. NWR is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous 

weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts 

official NWS warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a 

week. Working with the FCC EAS, NWR is an "All Hazards" radio network, making it a single 

source for comprehensive weather and emergency information. In conjunction with Federal, 

State, and Local Emergency Managers and other public officials, NWR also broadcasts warning 

and post-event information for all types of hazards – including natural (such as earthquakes or 

avalanches), environmental (such as chemical releases or oil spills), and public safety (such as 

AMBER alerts or 911 Telephone outages).

National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP).

The National Weather Service (NWS) has oversight responsibility for the NTHMP. The mission 

of the NTHMP is to work with communities in vulnerable U.S. coastal areas on preparedness 

activities to respond to tsunami events. In response to the destructive Indian Ocean Tsunami 

(December 2004), the U.S. Tsunami Warning Program, including the NTHMP, was upgraded 

and expanded to enhance the monitoring, detection, warning, and communications capabilities 

designed to protect lives and property for all U.S. communities at risk.

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NOAA/National Ocean Service

Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) Resilience Program 

In 2014, NOAA CO-OPS rebranded the CO-OPS COASTAL Program to the CO-OPS 

Resilience Program. This Program continues to focus on non-navigational applications of COOPS observing systems, data, and products for ecosystem restoration and management. The 

Resilience Program also provides decision-support tools to aid managers and restoration 

practitioners to plan for both current and future coastal conditions, and to anticipate and mitigate 

natural hazards. Real-time water level and meteorological information is critical for emergency 

managers to make decisions related to evacuation and warnings for coastal communities, as well 

as to produce storm surge predictions. 

The Storm QuickLook product, in particular, incorporates water level and meteorological 

information measured at National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON) and Physical 

Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS®) stations. Storm QuickLook bulletins are posted for 

tropical cyclones that affect the United States coastline, but have also been created for the 

Deepwater Horizon oil spill and for elevated water levels in the Mississippi River that occurred 

in 2011. These bulletins provide near real-time, continuously updating oceanographic and 

meteorological data measured at affected water level stations. Also, 6-minute interval GOES 

transmission capability supports the NWS storm surge warning program when expected water 

level elevations are predicted or observed during coastal storms and hurricanes.

In FY15, CO-OPS completed the following improvements to this product:

• Updated the base map used in the QuickLook product by taking advantage of NOAA's ESRI 

Enterprise User Agreement.

• Better integrated the product with the Tides and Currents website by activating the header, 

making it easier to navigate to other CO-OPS web products.

• Improved the products ability to scale based on browser size, which has greatly improved use 

on mobile devices.

The CO-OPS Resilience Program also provides aid to Tsunami Warning Centers, by supplying 

one-minute water level observations at coastal NWLON stations, as well as 15-second data as 

requested after a tsunami event. These data are used to assess the impact and damage of a 

tsunami. For more information see http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/coastal.html. 

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NOAA/Office of Marine and Aviation Operations

Among the NOAA/OMAO airborne observing systems fleet, the King Air (N68RF) and the 

Twin Otters (4 aircraft) can perform damage assessment flights following natural disasters. They 

provide georeferenced, high-resolution photographs to the public via the Internet. These 

photographs are extremely useful to local, county, and state government personnel, as well as to 

emergency managers and to the public at large, as they go about the business of assessing the 

damage and the nature and magnitude of the relief effort that will be required in the region as 

part of the FEMA National Response Framework. 

United States Air Force

Air Force (AF) weather personnel enable DoD decision-makers to anticipate and exploit the 

weather for air, ground, space, cyberspace, and intelligence operations. As this applies to 

‘Emergency Response and Homeland Security Services,’ the AF provides meteorological

information, products, and services required to support Air Force, Army, and other military 

operations in order to support the Nation’s emergency response and homeland security efforts.

Strong interagency partnerships provide access to data sources, insight into emerging science and 

technology, and help all parties leverage limited budgets by reducing redundancy and pooling 

capabilities. Air Force weather personnel and capabilities may also be leveraged for Defense 

Support of Civil Authorities operations. Different AF organizations support various aspects of 

the Nation’s homeland security efforts:

• The AF, through the 1st Weather Group, produces environmental products used to support 

both the daily and emergency response and homeland security operations of the U.S. 

Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and the North American Aerospace Defense 

Command (NORAD). The AF’s 2nd Weather Group produces fine-resolution model and 

forecast products for use by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) in its hazard 

dispersion modeling and related emergency planning and response efforts. The 2nd Weather 

Figure 2: Updated the base map used in the Storm QuickLook product added in FY15

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Group also produces space weather products used to support both the daily and emergency 

response and homeland security operation of USNORTHCOM and NORAD.

• The AF produces both CONUS and worldwide geospatial representations of current and 

forecast weather used to support the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) in their 

homeland security mission.

• The AF provides backup to several NOAA operational centers, maintaining capabilities (for 

example) in severe weather, aviation, volcanic ash dispersion, and space weather, available if 

and when needed to support emergency response and homeland security.

• The AF’s CONUS and overseas Operational Weather Squadrons, who provide regional 

reachback support aligned with the Geographic Combatant Command areas of responsibility, 

may support emergency planning and response operations for US interests at home or abroad.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), operated jointly with the 17th Operational

Weather Squadron (17 OWS) and the Navy in Hawaii, routinely works with its sister U.S. 

and international tropical cyclone forecast centers to issue forecasts and warnings to protect 

U.S. DoD assets across the Pacific and Indian Ocean basins.

• The Air Force Reserve Command's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron "Hurricane 

Hunters" collect meteorological data in and around tropical cyclones, providing timely and 

accurate data to the National Hurricane Center to aid in their analysis, prediction and warning 

products to help mitigate and protect lives and property impacted by these tropical systems.

United States Navy

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response

Navy METOC personnel support Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HA/DR) 

operations aboard U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels. Military oceanographic survey vessels 

designated as T-AGS are continuously forward deployed and conduct hydrographic, 

oceanographic and acoustic surveys in all the oceans of the world. These ships have modern full 

ocean depth multi-beam and single-beam sonar systems for accurately measuring bottom depths 

and features, towed side-scan sonar systems for acoustic imaging of bottom features and 

navigation hazards, ocean current profilers, sub-bottom profilers for measuring stratification of 

seabed sediments, and over-the-side devices that collect physical ocean parameters such as 

temperature and salinity with depth. These ships are capable of hosting a number of roll-on/rolloff systems, including systems for collection of seismic data and unmanned underwater vehicles. 

The ships are also equipped with C-band communications to send data directly back to the Naval 

Oceanographic Office for immediate processing. Three of the ships are complemented with 

hydrographic survey vessels — smaller craft for shallow water hydrographic collection. We have 

been operating unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) for well over a decade. Their inventory 

consists of propelled vehicles, such as various models of the Remote Environmental Monitoring 

Units (REMUS) UUVs for collection of sonar, sub-bottom and optical data in addition to 

buoyancy controlled, high endurance UUVs, such as the Slocum glider and wave-powered 

Sensor Hosting Autonomous Remote Craft (SHARC) vehicles, which collect and transmit ocean

and atmospheric data in real time for satellite transfer back to our operational production centers. 

Navy uses UUVs for direct support to operation missions. As part of our hydrographic 

capability, they also employ unique jet-ski variants called Expeditionary Survey Vehicles or 

ESVs. Outfitted with single-beam and side-scan sonar, in addition to accurate Global Positioning 

System navigation, ESVs can be rapidly deployed and conduct hydrographic survey into the surf 

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zone, to places where traditional systems can’t go. This data is extremely useful for supporting 

expeditionary warfare and enabling missions like humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

Weather forecasts and surveys of anchorages and piers provided commanders with the status of 

port accessibility, ensuring accessibility to the port critical to allowing food, water, medical 

supplies, materials, and other support to arrive by sea.

Partnerships and Stability Operations 

Partnerships provide access to data sources, insight 

into emerging science and technology, and help all 

parties leverage limited budgets by reducing 

redundancy and pooling capabilities. Naval 

operational oceanography has a long history of 

executing cooperative military hydrographic and 

oceanographic surveys, as well as data, product and 

subject matter exchanges with international 

partners. Their ability to provide emerging partners 

with improved capabilities in the areas of 

meteorology, oceanography and hydrography is 

unique and is highly regarded by combatant 

commanders and naval component commanders as 

an outstanding tool for strategic engagement. In 

turn, their partners provide access to information 

vital to forward-deployed naval operations. 

Navy METOC also maintains strong interagency 

partnerships. The integration of modeling efforts 

among the Navy, National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and U.S. Air 

Force, NUOPC provides an unparalleled global modeling capability that can be adapted by 

individual agencies for specific applications. Another strong example is their partnership with 

NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard in operating the U.S. National/Naval Ice Center, providing ice 

analysis and forecasts to support safety of navigation for public, commercial and DoD use in the 

Arctic, Antarctic, Great Lakes, and all other large bodies of water affected by ice.

U.S. Marine Corps 

Chemical Biological Incident Response Force

The CBIRF METOC Analyst serves to provide essential meteorological and hazardous 

prediction information in support of CBIRF`s real world and training operations coupled with 

providing daily and weekly weather forecasts and climatological briefs to the corresponding staff 

to support planning operations and typical battalion operations. Other duties include: research 

and implement new weather forecasting techniques or tools as well as new plume modeling 

software or tools; responsible for coordinating and maintaining liaison with local, state, and 

federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, Defense Threat Reduction 

Agency (DTRA), or Joint Task Force Civil Support (JTF-CS) in order to enable appropriate 

Figure 3: Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle used 

for hydrographic surveying from a T-AGS 

vessel

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sharing of information and a combined arms response to Chemical Biological Radiological 

Nuclear Explosive (CBRNE) incidents that may occur within CBIRF`s purview; and work with 

the Battalion Chemist to develop plume modeling products that are disseminated in response to 

training or real world CBRNE events.

U.S. Geological Survey

The USGS mission provides for "the classification of the public lands and the examination of the 

geological structure, mineral resources, and products of the National Domain.” The USGS serves 

the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; 

minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and 

mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life. Among its broad responsibilities 

and efforts are identification, assessment, and monitoring of potentially hazardous areas; 

development of capabilities to predict the time, place, and the severity of hazardous geologic, 

hydrometeorologic, biologic, and chemical conditions or events; and dissemination of the 

findings and their implications, including the provision of technical and scientific advice to 

public officials. The USGS also maintains Bureau-wide efforts intended to educate the public 

about natural hazards. 

The USGS has been delegated the Federal responsibility to provide notification and warnings for 

earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides. In addition, USGS data-collection networks provide realtime information needed by other agencies to issue forecasts and warnings related to a variety of 

hazards. For example, the USGS seismic network supports NOAA tsunami warnings; the USGS 

streamgage network supports NOAA flood forecasts (see Hydrometeorological and Water 

Resources Services); the USGS geomagnetic observations support solar storm forecasts (see 

Space Weather Services); USGS biologic monitoring of wildlife diseases enhances assessments 

of potential human pathogens such as the H1NI influenza virus; and USGS geospatial and 

remotely sensed information supports a broad spectrum of disaster-response activities and 

operations from an “all-hazards” perspective.

The USGS established a secondary reception station for NOAA GOES at the USGS Earth 

Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center in Sioux Falls, SD. Three new satellite 

antennas and an existing antenna at EROS are used in support of this effort. Three of these 

antennas support communications with the GOES East and GOES West satellites, along with a 

hot spare. The remaining antenna is designated for a DOMSAT link, which is used for data 

dissemination. EROS also receives streamgage data in real time from the GOES satellites and is 

making these data available to USGS and other stakeholders. The receive station at EROS serves 

as a backup to the primary site [station] at Wallops Island, Virginia, which otherwise would 

represent a single point of failure in this vital data collection and dissemination system.

Beyond network operations, the USGS has the expertise and infrastructure to acquire, assess, 

disseminate, or preserve information that can be derived from the study of geological, 

hydrological, meteorological, chemical, or biological conditions before, during, or after an 

imminent or declared disaster or emergency. These capabilities can be tapped through mission 

assignments, interagency agreements, or third-party contracts, as provided by law and regulation.

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Department of Energy 

Field Site and National Laboratory Meteorological Services 

In support of its national security, scientific research, and environmental stewardship missions, 

DOE has established and maintained operational meteorology programs at its field sites, national 

laboratories and offices. It has also managed various atmospheric research projects in support of 

emergency response and homeland security services among other activities. With respect to these 

programs, field sites and national laboratories collect quality-assured meteorological data, 

develop site-specific climatology from these measurements, use these data for various 

applications, and provide local site weather forecasting.

Emergency response and homeland security services require characterization of atmospheric 

processes that determine fate and transport of hazardous material releases. Meteorology 

programs directly contribute to the protection of public health and safety, and the environment, 

by accurately measuring and characterizing relevant local atmospheric processes to establish 

real-time and forecasted consequences.

DOE sites benefit from well-managed meteorological program support to 24/7 operations (e.g., 

work-force safety under severe weather and emergencies) and national defense programs.

Field Site and National Laboratory Operationao Meteorological Support 

Operational meteorology programs provide customized meteorological monitoring services and 

local site weather forecasts for national defense projects, and for nuclear safety and emergency 

response programs. Each operational program is primarily focused on supporting emergency 

response, and protecting the safety of workers, public and the environment. 

Operational meteorology programs are established at eight national laboratories, three 

reservations, Pantex, and Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Some of these programs incorporate 24/7 

severe weather watches to reduce risk of potential adverse impacts on facilities, construction 

projects, property, and workers: 

• Two sites have received a National Weather Service (NWS) Storm Ready certification and 

other sites are pursuing this certification;

• Lightning protection and safety initiatives are integral elements of facility and worker safety 

systems supported by operational meteorology programs at eight locations;

• State-of-the-art instrumentation, including vertical profilers, sound detection and ranging 

instruments, and sonic anemometry, are employed in site monitoring networks; and,

• Data from some sites are part of the NWS database through the Meteorological Assimilation 

Data Ingest System.

The DOE Meteorological Coordinating Council, established in 1994, provides a forum for 

continuity of meteorological activities at DOE sites. Information on this council can be located at 

www.orise.orau.gov/emi/dmcc.

Many DOE reservations and national laboratories are located in areas with heterogeneous surface 

characteristics (e.g., land-water interface, mountain-valley morphology, forests) and experience 

complex localized weather conditions and resultant airflow trajectories. At these locations, 

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diagnostic and prognostic characterization of local three-dimensional wind fields is required to 

determine trustworthy consequence assessments. Accordingly, multi-location comprehensive 

meteorological monitoring systems are essential at these facilities. Oak Ridge National 

Laboratory (ORNL) has produced a comprehensive characterization of the wind fields in the Oak 

Ridge, TN area that is being used to fine-tune its ATD modeling while other sites have 

extensively studied site-specific atmospheric flow phenomena to calibrate ATD capabilities. 

Finally, several DOE sites use NOAA’s Weather Research Forecasting mesoscale model as a 

component of its emergency response prognosticative capability.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response 

coordinates NRC responses to nuclear facility emergencies through the activation of the NRC 

Operations Center. The Protective Measures Team dose analysts in the NRC Operations Center 

rely on the Radiological Assessment System for Consequence Analysis (RASCAL) model to 

assess offsite consequences in the event of a radiological accident at a NRC-licensed facility.

The NRC also maintains an interest in the effects of transport and dispersion of airborne 

hazardous and nonradioactive materials on the safe operation of nuclear facilities and uses 

SAFER Real-Time to assess protective action levels for making recommendations in the event of 

a non-radiological accident at an NRC licensee.

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)

Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML)

AOML conducts mission oriented scientific research that seeks to understand the physical, 

chemical, and biological characteristics and processes of the ocean and atmosphere, both 

separately and as a coupled system. While the focus of the laboratory is on improving 

understanding through research, AOML houses a large component of the global ocean observing 

system, including Argo profiling floats and surface drifters. AOML also has maintained the longstanding expendable bathythermograph (XBT) program, which has a long-standing collaboration 

with the National Weather Service and the United States Coast Guard to develop and support the 

AMVER program. The AMVER program (Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue 

AMVER reports allow the U. S. Coast Guard to track a vessel's position. The AMVER program 

relies on ships to submit four types of reports: (1) Sail Plans; (2) Position Reports; (3) Arrival 

Reports and (4) Deviation Reports, when necessary. The U. S. Coast Guard updates their 

database with the position information from these reports, which allows them to identify vessels 

in the vicinity of a ship in distress. AOML mains the software and processes all reports.

Air Resources Laboratory (ARL)

NOAA’s Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) develops and improves dispersion and air quality 

models and collects research-grade atmospheric measurements. Our programs support NOAA, 

broader US, and some international emergency response programs with an emphasis on 

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chemical, nuclear, smoke, dust, and volcanic ash events. Our key NOAA customer is the 

National Weather Service, and we interact extensively with the National Ocean Service Office of 

Response and Restoration. ARL also provides a broad selection of web based assessment tools. 

ARL’s primary emergency response model platform is the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian 

Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model and has been made operational at NOAA’s National 

Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). HYSPLIT also serves as the national dispersion 

forecasting capability in several other countries. HYSPLIT is the major product employed in the 

operations of the Regional Specialized Meteorology Center (RSMC) set up as a joint undertaking 

of ARL and NCEP under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The 

WMO/RSMC is the source of dispersion products in the event that a radioactive plume crosses 

international boundaries. 

ARL provides meteorological support for the Department of Energy at the Idaho National 

Laboratory (INL) in Idaho Falls and at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) north of Las 

Vegas. ARL meteorologists staff the DOE Emergency Operations Center during drills and 

emergencies, such as accidental toxic chemical releases and wildfires. ARL operates an 

additional mesonet in East Tennessee that collects ozone and basic meteorological information. 

In FY16, ARL will:

• Continue to improve and adapt the HYSPLIT model to address threats imposed from 

radioactive material, volcanic ash, dust, and wildfire smoke, and other hazardous materials.

• Provide reach-back support to NWS and other organizations that use our models.

• Continue to maintain mesonets in Nevada, Idaho, and eastern Tennessee.

• Continue to support the Department of Energy at the INL and NNSS.

Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL)

The Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) has developed and continues to 

upgrade the Great Lakes Coastal Forecasting System (GLCFS). This system produces forecasts 

of waves, currents, temperature, ice, and other properties of the five Great Lakes and their 

connecting channels that are used by commercial ship captains, recreational boaters, fishermen, 

beach managers, oil spill responders, and search and rescue personnel. The GLCFS is currently 

being upgraded from a system based on the Princeton Ocean Model (POM), to a system based on 

the Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model (FVCOM), which allows the model to be executed with 

variable spatial resolution, among other capabilities. The FVCOM versions of the GLCFS will 

become operational in FY2014, starting with Lake Erie.

The NOAA Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Team has also recently completed a technical 

memorandum that describes the particular roles and responsibilities for different NOAA offices 

and personnel in the Great Lakes in the event of a natural or human-caused emergency such as a 

severe winter storm, large wildfire, or oil spill. The team will be assisting other NOAA regions 

in FY2014 to adapt this approach for use in their areas, with consideration of the particular 

emergencies that might be anticipated in other regions such as hurricanes or earthquakes.

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Emergency Response and Homeland Security Services

National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

NSSL collaborates with the NWS on research and development activities to advance our 

knowledge and understanding of severe convective storms and to provide new and improved 

tools and techniques for observation, prediction, and analysis of these storms and their associated 

hazards. In addition, NSSL works with social scientists and emergency responders in moving 

toward a Weather-Ready Nation that is resilient in the face of increasing vulnerability to severe 

weather. Part of this effort involves monitoring and quickly assessing damage in the wake of 

severe weather events such as tornadoes, so that emergency responders can be rapidly and 

efficiently dispatched to affected areas. In FY14 NSSL scientists evaluated several different 

methods that create preliminary damage paths of tornadoes as they occur and they utilized the 

results to develop a refined, automated method for creating radar-based tornado tracks during 

FY15. This new method was tested in collaboration with NWS forecasters and FEMA 

emergency responders in the Hazardous Weather Testbed. This work will be further refined and 

linked to FEMA databases in FY16.

Department of Energy

The Department of Energy (DOE) Meteorological Coordinating Council (DMCC) was 

established in 1994 to coordinate meteorological activities among the field offices to enhance 

cost effectiveness and productivity and to leverage synergistic opportunities. DOE has delegated 

the operation of its site/facility meteorological programs to NOAA and to non-Federal for-profit 

management and operating contractors. The DMCC membership is therefore composed of 

subject-matter experts from within the DOE complex, representing the three components with 

operational responsibilities for the following programs:

• Department of Commerce (DOC/NOAA) under interagency agreements

• Management and operating (M&O) contractors

• Private contractors

The DMCC operates as a subcommittee of the DOE Emergency Management Issues Special 

Interest Group (EMI SIG) and has a web page that can be accessed directly or through the 

Subcommittees and Working Groups tab of the EMI-SIG website. DMCC also issues an annual 

report as part of its presentation to the EMI SIG Steering Committee.

A current DMCC project is to improve the provision of quality-assured meteorological 

information and execution of transport and dispersion models that meet software quality 

assurance requirements. Products of the DMCC include evaluations of meteorological 

requirements contained in DOE orders and guidance documents, site meteorological program 

peer reviews (i.e., meteorological program assist visits), and, as needed, customized technical 

assistance. The DMCC has developed tools to enable DOE/NNSA sites to perform selfassessments of their individual meteorological monitoring programs and the meteorological 

aspects of consequence assessment.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

The Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) plans, recommends, and implements a 

program of nuclear regulatory research for nuclear power plants and other facilities regulated by 

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the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). RES provides technical support, tools, and 

information to identify and resolve safety issues for current and new designs and technologies 

through testing, data development, analysis, and national and international collaboration. For 

example, RES is currently evaluating toxic gas dispersion modeling capabilities of several 

computer codes as licensing tools for assessment of control room habitability specific to dense 

gas release simulations. RES also develops regulatory guidance and participates in the 

development of criteria and consensus standards related to the protection of the public health and 

safety and the environment. 

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HYDROMETEOROLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES 

SERVICES

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Interagency Collaborative Programs and Products

Integrated Water Resources Science and Services (IWRSS)

IWRSS is a new business model for interagency collaboration. IWRSS brings a consortium of 

United States federal agencies with complementary water resources missions together to share 

resources to help address the nation's water resources issues. These water resources challenges 

include: a) population growth and economic development are stressing water supplies and 

increasing vulnerability; b) a changing climate is impacting water availability and quality and 

increasing uncertainty; and, c) an aging water infrastructure is forcing critical, expensive 

decisions. The collective capabilities of Federal water agencies need to be leveraged to inform 

and guide increasingly important water decisions.

Initiated through an Interagency Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), IWRSS's overarching 

objective is to enable and demonstrate a broad, interactive national water resources information 

system to serve as a reliable and authoritative means for adaptive water related planning, 

preparedness and response activities. The goals are to:

• integrate information delivery and simplify access to this data,

• increase accuracy and timeliness of water information, and

• provide summit-to-the-sea, treetop-to-bedrock, high resolution water resources information 

and forecasts for droughts to floods.

Currently the collaboration is with three United States federal agencies: USGS, NOAA, and 

USACE. Other federal agencies are expected to join the consortium in the near future. Two 

initial inter-agency teams have been established to support and help define the IWRSS effort; a 

National Flood Inundation Mapping team and a System Interoperability and Data 

Synchronization team. Teams have completed interagency requirements documents and are now 

working to establish designs to address identified requirements.

The activities of these two teams address the IWRSS goals, as well as the objective of the 

USACE “Building Strong Collaborative Relationships for a Sustainable Water Resources 

Future” initiative to build a Federal Support Toolbox for Integrated Water Resources 

For purposes of this Federal Plan, Hydrometeorology and Water Resources Services are those 

specialized meteorological services and facilities that combine atmospheric science, hydrology, and 

water resources in order to meet the requirements of Federal, state, and local agencies for information 

on the effects of precipitation events on infrastructure, water supplies, and waterways. These products 

and services also meet the needs of the general public in the conduct of everyday activities and for the 

protection of lives and property.

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Management (IWRM). IWRSS builds on progress made under AHPS, CHPS and other NOAA 

water forecasting services. Additional information is included at 

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/oh/nwc/.

NOAA/National Weather Service

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS; 

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/hdqrtr.php) has the primary responsibility among Federal agencies to 

provide advanced alerts of hydrologic conditions via flood warnings and river forecasts in the 

United States. The provision of these water prediction and warning services are significantly 

influenced by anthropogenic activities associated with water management and water use (e.g., 

reservoir regulation, diversions, withdrawals). In order to provide these important services, 

collaboration with other federal agencies is crucial as 24 Federal agencies have a role in water.

The end-to-end forecast process employed by the NWS to provide hydrologic and water 

resources forecast and warning services leverages data and information from Federal partners 

and involves the following:

• Meteorological and hydrological observations and anthropogenic data;

• Data collection, management and processing;

• Science and technology infusion;

• River and water quantity forecasting;

• Inundation mapping;

• Dissemination systems;

• Performance measurement; and

• Outreach and education.

NWS relies on routine access to water data and observations from other Federal agencies to 

produce and provide water forecasts and warnings. These Federal agencies and their respective 

roles include the:

• Department of Interior (DOI)

 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) - real-time and historical streamflow observations, 

stream/river cross-sections, rating curves (relating streamflow to river stage), topographic 

data (for inundation mapping)

 U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBOR) – water use/regulation data

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – water use/regulation data, real-time streamflow 

observations, and hydraulic models

• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – snow observations

• Department of Energy (DOE) – water use/regulation data

The NWS hydrology and water resources program also leverages and expands NOAA science 

and service partnerships for the atmosphere, watersheds, estuaries, and oceans as well as 

partnerships with universities, the private sector, and the international community to improve and 

integrate modeling capabilities.

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An NWS field infrastructure which includes 122 Weather Forecast Offices (WFO), 13 River 

Forecast Centers (RFC), the National Water Center (NWC), and the National Centers for 

Environmental Prediction’s (NCEP) Weather Prediction Center (WPC) and Climate Prediction 

Center (CPC) work as a team to provide hydrologic forecast and warning services ( see 

http://water.weather.gov/ahps/) from floods to droughts to minimize the loss of life and property 

and to meet the growing water resources service needs of our Nation. NWS hydrologic products 

and services support decision makers across a wide range of service sectors including emergency 

management, agriculture, hydropower, reservoir management, watershed management, river 

commerce, municipal and industrial water supply, and recreation.

A new element of the NWS water resources program infrastructure, the National Water Center 

(NWC), was completed in early 2014 on the campus of the University of Alabama in 

Tuscaloosa, AL. The NWC will serve as a cornerstone for collaboration among Federal water 

agencies and provide a central hub to integrate and advance regional field operations and 

services. It is currently being staffed to achieve an Initial Operating Capability by May 2015. 

WFOs (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/organization.php) assess and monitor the threat of flash and 

river flooding 24 hours a day 7 days a week to provide timely and accurate life-saving flood 

watches and warnings. Toward this end, WFOs integrate a spectrum of RFC, NCEP and NWC 

guidance, Doppler weather radar (NEXRAD)-based precipitation estimates, and real-time 

telemetered precipitation and stream gauge observations, to provide routine river forecast 

services and critical, event-based decision support services. In addition, WFOs work with dam 

operators and the emergency management community to provide timely warnings for floods that 

result from infrastructure failure such as dam break and levee breaches. Moreover, WFOs 

routinely conduct local outreach and education to heighten public and partner awareness of flood 

risks and NWS hydrologic services.

RFCs (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/organization.php) routinely generate short range (deterministic) 

through extended range (probabilistic) river forecasts and (deterministic) flash flood guidance.

Information from the RFCs serves as the basis for local flood and flash flood warnings, watches, 

and advisories issued by the WFOs. These RFC products typically incorporate guidance from 

WPC, CPC, NWC and the WFOs, and emphasize flooding impacts from meteorological events 

based on geographic area, land use, time of the year, and other factors. In order to provide 

objective simulations of future river flows, RFCs calibrate, operate, and verify sophisticated 

hydrologic models based on rainfall, soil characteristics, quantitative precipitation forecasts 

(QPFs), reservoir regulations, and several other variables. Some RFCs, especially those in 

mountainous regions, also provide water-supply volume and peak-flow forecasts based on snow 

pack in high elevations. These water supply forecasts are used by a wide range of decision 

makers, including those in agriculture, hydroelectric dam operation and electricity generation, 

and water resources management. RFCs routinely coordinate with their associated WFOs, 

Federal water partners, stakeholders, NWC and the WPC.

NWC (http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/) provides comprehensive snow observations, analyses, data 

sets and map products for the Nation. NWC products and services are used by RFCs and WFOs 

to develop a variety of water resources products such as spring flood outlooks, water supply 

outlooks, river and flood forecasts, and reservoir inflow forecasts. Additionally, the NWC 

provides and supports geographic information system (GIS) data sets and applications used by 

the RFCs in generating automated hydrologic forecast basin boundaries. NWC products and 

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services also support a wide variety of government and private-sector applications in water 

resource management, disaster emergency preparedness, weather and flood forecasting, 

agriculture, transportation and commerce.

Personnel at the NCEP’s WPC, located in College Park, Maryland, routinely prepare a spectrum 

of analyses and forecast products spanning the period out to 7 days. The product suite is focused 

on heavy rainfall and heavy snowfall, and is used by the WFOs to develop local rainfall, snow, 

and ice forecasts. RFCs use the products to develop local river and flood forecasts. WPC 

coordinates with RFCs, WFOs and other Federal agencies, such as the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency (FEMA), during major flood events. In addition to the heavy precipitation 

focus, the WPC also provides an array of surface analyses and short-range forecast products, and 

medium-range forecast products used by NWS field offices and the weather enterprise.

NCEP’s CPC monitors and forecasts short-term climate fluctuations and generates guidance to 

communicate the effects climate patterns can have on the Nation. CPC develops and produces a 

suite of climate predictions and monitoring products, assessments, and discussions. These 

forecast products include 6-10 day, 8-14 day, one-month, and three month outlooks which depict 

the probability the temperature and precipitation will be above or below normal. CPC also 

routinely produces a U.S. Hazards Outlook, a U.S. Monthly Drought Outlook, a U.S. Seasonal 

Drought Outlook. CPC also partners with the USDA and the National Drought Mitigation Center 

to produce the U.S. Drought Monitor. These products are used by WFOs and RFCs to enhance 

decision support services and serve as an input to RFC-generated, ensemble-based, extended 

range (probabilistic) river forecasts. Please go to CPC’s website, http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/, 

for more information.

The Community Hydrologic Prediction System (CHPS; 

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/oh/hrl/chps/index.html) is an operational framework that allows for 

broad systems interoperability at the 13 NWS RFCs, and supports new water resources-related 

forecasts. It reinforces NOAA’s national water information strategy, allowing NOAA’s research 

and development enterprise and operational service delivery infrastructure to be integrated and 

leveraged with other Federal water agency activities and the private sector. Through CHPS, and 

under the auspices of the Integrated Water Resources Science and Services (IWRSS) 

Consortium, NOAA plans to deliver a new suite of high-resolution forecasts (including estimates 

of uncertainty) for streamflow, soil moisture, soil temperature, and many other variables directly 

related to watershed conditions via collaboration and sharing of data and models with other 

Federal, university, and private-sector experts. Furthermore, these activities will enable NOAA 

to deliver a national database of hydrologic analyses and predictions and generate user-friendly 

geographic information system (GIS) products for monitoring floods and drought. This activity 

contributes to the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS).

Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS)

The overarching goals of AHPS are to provide: a) better forecast accuracy by incorporating 

advanced hydrologic science into NWS models; b) more specific and timely information on fastrising floods by using tools which make it easier to rapidly identify small basins affected by 

heavy rainfall and excessive runoff, and predict the extent and timing of the resulting inundation; 

c) new types of forecast information by incorporating enhanced techniques for quantifying 

forecast certainty and conveying this information in products which specify the probability of 

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reaching various water levels; d) longer forecast horizons; e) easier-to-use products; and f) 

increased, more timely, and consistent access to hydrologic information. AHPS includes a suite 

of web-based products and information designed to support more informed decisions through 

timely and accurate hydrologic forecasts and warnings. 

The NWS continues to implement AHPS which builds on the existing NWS infrastructure, 

including the Advanced Weather Information Processing System (AWIPS), NEXRAD, and 

CHPS. AHPS also provides Ensemble Streamflow Prediction (ESP) - a capability that allows the 

NWS to generate extended range (probabilistic) river forecasts which quantify the forecast 

certainty. This information enables decision makers to apply risk-based analyses as they prepare 

for, and respond to, flooding and better balance competing demands on water supply, especially 

during periods of drought. The ESP capability is being expanded to include new techniques to 

facilitate the comprehensive generation of probabilistic hydrologic information seamlessly from 

short- to long- forecast horizons within CHPS. This enhanced capability is referred to as the 

Hydrologic Ensemble Forecast Service (HEFS) and is being implemented at select river forecast 

locations across the country. 

Another AHPS capability, known as Flash Flood Monitoring and Prediction (FFMP), combines 

high-resolution radar rainfall observations with GIS technology to provide more accurate and 

precise flash flood detection. Flash floods, typically caused by intense, small-scale convective 

systems, are the leading cause of flood fatalities. The added precision provided by FFMP greatly 

reduces the area warned in flash flood warnings, making them more credible and leading to more 

effective and efficient public response, which ultimately saves lives. AHPS also provides 

opportunities to improve NOAA’s analysis and forecast capabilities related to coastal water 

conditions, through joint efforts with NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS) and Office of 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR).

Integrated Water Resources Science and Services (IWRSS).

See Interagency Collaborative Programs and Products at the beginning of this section.

NWS Partnerships for Hydrometeorological Products and Services

Partnerships with a variety of Federal, state, and local agencies are critical to the NWS 

Hydrologic Services Program. For example, the NWS works very closely on water-related issues 

with many federal water agencies including: the USGS, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the 

Bureau of Land Management in the Department of the Interior; with the USACE in the 

Department of Defense; the Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation 

Service (NRCS); and FEMA in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Among these 

partnering activities are stream gaging, flood inundation mapping, river and water supply 

forecasting, and water management. For example, river stage and flow observations and stage 

discharge relationships provided by the USGS and reservoir operation information provided by 

the USACE, are critical to NWS warning and forecast operations for the Nation’s rivers.

NOAA/Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO)

Within the NOAA/Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) aircraft fleet, the AC695A Commander 1000 (N45RF) and a DHC-6 Twin Otter (N46RF or N48RF) are used 

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annually to conduct important snow-pack surveys (see 

http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/snowsurvey/) and soil moisture measurements throughout the U.S.

During these survey flights, the gamma radiation sensors aboard these aircraft measure the 

naturally occurring terrestrial radiation emitted from the ground to obtain snow-water and soil 

moisture equivalent estimates. The data are transmitted to the National Operational Hydrologic 

Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC; http://www.nohrsc.nws.gov/) up to three times a day, and, 

after further processing, the data are distributed to NWS field offices within five minutes of

receipt from the aircraft. These data are used by the NWS to forecast river levels and potential 

flood events, resulting from snowmelt water runoff. Hydroelectric power interests and other 

water supply managers also use the data to regulate water storage and delivery.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

NRCS Hydrometeorological Observations

Snowmelt provides the majority of the annual water supply in the Western United States; 

therefore, having information on snowpack is critical for water supply forecasts and

management. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) measures snowpack and 

collects hydrometeorological data in 13 Western States, including Alaska. NRCS’ Snow Survey 

and Water Supply Forecasting (SSWSF) Program conducts snow surveys at high elevations in 

the mountainous West. The data collection system includes approximately 1,112 active manual 

snow courses in the United States and Canada (Canada operates their own data collection, but 

shares data with US), and more than 878 automated Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) and aerial 

markers (SNOLITE) monitoring stations. The NRCS collects data at the manual snow courses in 

cooperation with a number of different Federal, State, local, and private partners, as well as 

Canadian agencies. The SNOTEL and manual snow course data, along with data from streamgages, major reservoirs, and climatological observation stations managed by other agencies, are 

merged into a hydroclimatic database that is used to produce real-time watershed analyses and 

water supply forecasts. The purpose of water supply forecasts are to: (1) help irrigators make the 

most effective use of limited water supplies for agricultural production needs; (2) assist the 

Federal government in administering international water treaties with Canada and Mexico; (3) 

assist State governments in managing intrastate streams and interstate water compacts; (4) assist 

municipalities in planning the early management of anticipated water supplies and drought 

mitigation; (5) operate reservoirs to satisfy multiple use demands, including hydropower 

generation; (6) mitigate flood damages in levied areas and downstream from reservoirs; and (7) 

support fish and wildlife management activities associated with species protection legislation.

The automated SNOTEL and SNOLITE network transmits data from remote sites and is served 

on the web by the National Water and Climate Center in Portland, Oregon. The SNOTEL and 

SNOLITE network provides near-real-time remote hydrometeorological data that significantly 

improve flood stage forecasts and the monitoring of other life-threatening snow-related events. 

The primary use of the snow survey data is the production of water supply forecasts for more 

than 641 Western basins. All SNOTEL and SNOLITE data are provided hourly on the web and 

utilized by groups such as the National Weather Service (NWS) to assist in forecasting flood 

events. SNOTEL and SNOLITE information enables emergency management agencies to 

effectively mitigate drought and flood damages and to monitor and assess wildfire potential.

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Water supply forecasts are produced bi-monthly each year from January through June, as well as 

mid-month forecasts and daily guidance for some basins beginning in December. The NRCS 

furnishes snow measurements that are combined with advanced snow modeling and analysis 

provided by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA’s National 

Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center continues to support joint NWS-NRCS efforts. 

The NRCS typically develops nearly 12,000 seasonal water supply forecasts for 641 streamflow 

forecast locations in 13 Western States. In addition, the Program provides daily water supply 

guidance forecasts for 331 of the 641 Western basins. These products provide information for 

water managers to adapt to weather changes as they occur. The web link for this information is 

http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/wsf/daily_forecasts.html.

Historical snow survey data are valuable to climate change researchers to aid in developing 

reliable projections of climate change. It has been projected that changes to the hydrologic cycle 

in the Western States, resulting from changes in snowpack conditions and timing of snowmelt, 

will increase the water supply challenges the States face. Monitoring data provides assistance to 

water managers at all levels to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Snowpack measurements 

extend back decades, and in some cases over 100 years, highlighting the value of this highaltitude network for understanding and assessing changes in climate.

The SSWSF Program provides a variety of climate and water supply products that are used to 

assess drought in the West. These include SNOTEL snowpack and precipitation analyses in the 

mountains, water supply forecasts, and State Surface Water Supply Indexes (SWSI). These 

products are critical to the weekly production of the interagency Drought Monitor, a web-based 

report. Separate from the SSWSF Program, the NRCS also manages a cooperative nationwide 

network of 220 Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN) sites in 40 States, as well as Puerto Rico 

and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These SCAN sites monitor soil temperature and soil moisture, which 

support national drought monitoring, agriculture production, and climate change research. 

Presently, more than 430 SNOTEL stations also have soil moisture and soil temperature sensors.

U.S Army Corps of Engineers

In its civil operational activities, the Corps of Engineers (COE) uses a network of about 10,850 

land-based gages. About 55 percent of these sites collect meteorological data, 35 percent collect 

a combination of hydrologic and meteorological data, and 10 percent collect hydrologic or water 

quality data. The meteorological gages commonly measure precipitation and temperature. All 

data are used in the regulation of COE dams and other water projects, for flood control, 

navigation, hydroelectric power, irrigation, water supply, water quality, and recreation. The COE 

funds or partially funds nearly half of all the gages it uses.

The COE funds NOAA/National Weather Service (NWS) to collect and maintain precipitation 

information from 876 meteorological sites. The COE funds the NWS for hydro-meteorological 

studies and funds the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for maintaining hydro-meteorological data 

collection services for 2479 sites. The rest of the sites are maintained by the COE. Services 

performed by USGS vary by site and by year, and can include site visits, maintenance of 

equipment, replacement of damaged equipment, field measurements for verification of data and 

continuous monitoring of data results. About 90 percent of all COE sites provide real-time data 

via satellite, microwaves, meterbursts, landlines, or radio. Data from COE gage sites are 

available to NWS, and to other federal, state and local agencies.

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U.S. Geological Survey

Hydrometeorological Data Collection and Distribution

The USGS’s Water Mission Area (WMA) collects streamflow, precipitation, water quality, 

ground-water level, and other water resources and climatological data as part of a national 

network and for a number of projects concerning rainfall-runoff, water quality, and hydrologic 

processes. Currently, the USGS collects 

continuous hydrologic and meteorological 

data at about 9,000 surface water sites, 2,700 

ground water-level sites, and 1,500 water 

quality sites. Periodic records are collected at 

approximately 1,500 additional surface water 

sites, 20,000 ground water sites, and 10,300 

water quality sites. Precipitation records are 

collected at about 800 sites.

Near-real-time streamflow data and ancillary 

information are provided to NWS RFCs for 

river forecast locations and to general public 

for all USGS streamgages via USGS NWIS 

website (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/).

Additional historical and real-time water 

resources data also are available. During 

floods, these data are supplemented by 

additional flood flow measurements. 

The USGS also collects precipitation samples at a number of sites to determine the atmospheric 

contribution of chemical constituent loads to runoff, and for defining the effect of atmospheric 

deposition on water quality and the aquatic environment.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Following the accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant resulting from the March 

11, 2011, Great Tōhoku Earthquake and subsequent tsunami, the Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission (NRC) issued letters to all its operating nuclear power plant licensees requesting 

that they reevaluate the flooding hazards at their sites using updated information and present-day 

regulatory guidance and methodologies. This includes considering the effects from large 

precipitation events, snow pack, ice effects, and other meteorological events that drive flood 

events, such as storm surge. Licensees were directed to provide their responses on a set response 

date between March 2013 and March 2015 based on a set of criteria used to prioritize the nuclear 

power plant sites. The NRC staff, along with support from its consultants, has begun reviewing 

the flood hazard reevaluations and accompanying site-specific probable maximum precipitation 

analyses that have been submitted to date to determine whether additional regulatory actions are 

necessary to protect against the updated hazards.

Figure 1: The USGS has developed new rapidly 

deploy-able, mobile streamgages to provide short-term 

water-level data to critical areas lacking perma-nent 

streamgages. Image provided by USGS Office of 

Surface Water.

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Hydrometeorology and Water Resources Services

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)

Hydrometeorological Testbed (HMT)

The HMT conducts research on precipitation and weather conditions that can lead to both 

flooding and drought, and fosters transition of scientific advances and new tools into forecasting 

operations. HMT's outputs support efforts to balance water resource demands and flood control 

in a changing climate. The HMT is a national program aimed at accelerating the infusion of new 

technologies, models, and scientific results from the research community into daily forecasting 

operations of the NWS at both the national (NCEP Weather Prediction Center) and regional 

(regional forecast centers and local forecast offices) levels. Research at the HMT, which operates 

as an end-to-end demonstration project with forecasters and researchers joining forces in the 

operational setting, has focused on improving regional forecasts of extreme precipitation, both 

too much and too little. This is achieved by a combination of: a) unique observations designed to 

monitor precipitation, kinematic, and surface processes; b) research aimed at improved 

understanding of physical processes leading to extreme precipitation; and c) operational forecast

experiments to test new tools, methods, and models. HMT partners with organizations across 

NOAA, including NESDIS, OAR, NWS, NMFS, and NOS as well as regional academic and 

State authorities.

In FY16, ESRL/PSD will continue to operate and maintain major West Coast observing 

networks that are sponsored by the California Department of Water Resources (CA-DWR) and 

the U.S. Dept. of Energy through the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. In California, there 

are four primary types of observing networks that are each designed to help forecasters and other 

end users monitor storm-scale and climate change impacts. In Oregon and Washington, the 

primary purpose of the observing networks is to aid with wind energy forecasting. ESRL/PSD 

will conclude the HMT Southeast Pilot Study (HMT-SEPS) and associated analysis efforts 

aimed at improving NOAA’s ability to monitor and predict extreme precipitation in the southeast 

U.S. This work has and will (in FY16) result in presentations at international scientific meetings, 

such as those sponsored by AGU and AMS, as well as peer-reviewed publications. ESRL/PSD 

and HMT are also leading several projects in the California Russian River watershed as part of 

the NOAA Habitat Blueprint, aimed at sustaining healthy ecosystems. NSSL and HMT are 

conducting the HMT-Hydro testbed experiment in July of 2015 and 2016 in order to evaluate the 

latest developments in flash flood prediction tools and display software for endangered species

ESRL/PSD will also implement an AWIPS-II development capability in FY16 to help foster the 

transition of HMT research products and data displays into operations.

Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL)

GLERL conducts research and modeling to advance understanding of the hydrometeorological 

and hydrologic system of the Great Lakes basin. The Great Lakes is unique among hydrologic 

catchments worldwide in having about one-third of its area covered by fresh water, thus 

affording water a stronger second chance to evaporate while within a water body in addition to 

evapotranspiration from the land areas. Economic sectors such as fishing, shipping, and 

recreation are linked to the lake levels and water quality of the Great Lakes. A major product 

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from GLERL is the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction System (AHPS, different from the NWS 

product of the same name) that provides probabilistic outlooks on a seasonal time scale, based on 

the Climate Prediction Center's meteorological outlooks (and corresponding Canadian products), 

for lake levels, precipitation, river flow, and other variables. GLERL also has the Great Lakes 

Hydrometeorological Dashboard, a web-based system for displaying a wide variety of 

observational and model-generated data for lake levels, precipitation, ice cover, evaporation, and 

other variables. GLERL's hydrologic activities are coordinated with cooperating groups in both 

the operational and research realm through the Coordinating Committee on Great Lakes Basic 

Hydraulic and Hydrologic Data (CCGLBHHD, or "The Coordinating Committee"), including 

other US Government entities (US Geological Survey, US Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, and 

NOAA National Ocean Service) and the Canadian Government (Environment Canada).

National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

Storm-scale Hydrometeorology Research.

The Storm Surge Roadmap (SSR) provides a framework for a comprehensive NOAA strategy to 

holistically address the development of new technology, products and services to meet mission 

needs for storm surge and coastal total water level prediction. The SSR lays out the goals of 

NOAA’s storm surge enterprise and identifies solutions to meet them. The SSR addresses coastal 

inundation from both tropical and extratropical cyclones over all areas of U.S. interest, including 

impacts of storm surge on the riverine environment. SSR outputs provide forecasters with the 

necessary tools to more accurately forecast the threat of coastal inundation; ensure the threat of 

dangerous water levels is communicated to the public in an understandable manner, thereby 

facilitating them in making better life- and property-saving decisions; and enable clear 

articulation of risk information to decision-makers and other partners, thereby resulting in a 

reduction of vulnerability to risks associated with coastal inundation. The SSR project portfolio 

lays out how new storm surge technologies, products, and services will be developed to meet 

specific strategic objectives.

NSSL contributes within this framework through the Coastal and Inland Flooding Observation 

and Warning (CI-FLOW) project, a multi-organizational, inter-disciplinary research and 

development project led by NSSL focused on improving NOAA’s prediction of total water level 

within tidally influenced watersheds. A real-time coupled model system that captures the total 

water level (tides + waves + storm surge + runoff) was developed through the CI-FLOW project. 

The modeling system couples precipitation estimates (NSSL’s Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor 

system), a hydrologic model ensemble (NWS’s Hydrology Lab – Research Distributed 

Hydrologic Model), a storm surge model [ADvanced CIRCulation (ADCIRC) model], and a 

wave model (Simulating WAves Nearshore model) to obtain flood inundation extents and 

significant wave heights. The CI-FLOW project successfully tested the coupled modeling system 

in real time on Hurricane Earl (2010) and Hurricane Irene (2011) in the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse 

basins in North Carolina. NOAA’s NWS, NOS, and OAR are synchronizing forecast capabilities 

to develop a national operational water forecast system. CI-FLOW is playing an active role in 

NOAA strategic planning for coupled river modeling by communicating research results learned 

throughout the history of the project.

NSSL is working with the NWS to bring enhanced weather information and capabilities to 

operations. After more than a decade of development, testing and experimental evaluation, 

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NSSL, in collaboration with the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), has 

delivered the Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor (MRMS) system to NWS operations. MRMS 

consolidates and “cleans up” data from a wide variety of sources including radars, satellites, and 

surface observations to provide forecasters with the best-possible real-time analysis of the 

atmosphere at any location. This system has shown considerable improvement in radar-based 

rainfall estimates and provides forecasters with an ability to “mine” the data set to extract new 

types of aviation, severe and hydrologic weather information. By placing high-quality, remotelysensed data in a three-dimensional framework accessible to NWS forecasters, MRMS has 

opened the door to exciting new possibilities in improving flash flood and severe weather 

warnings, as well as forecasts.

The MRMS suite of quantitative precipitation estimates (QPEs) incorporates information from 

operational and research weather surveillance radars (e.g., NOAA/NWS WSR-88Ds, FAA 

Terminal Doppler Weather Radars, deployable “gap-filling radars, Canadian operational network 

radars, etc), GOES satellite data, lightning flash detections, rain gauge accumulations, surface

and upper air observations, and numerical model outputs to produce gridded precipitation 

estimates. These precipitation products, with their different levels of complexity, each have 

strengths and weaknesses that vary with season, geography, and precipitation type. The MRMS 

QPE algorithm is unique in the way that it uses dual polarization moments to improve the quality 

of the precipitation maps, automatically identifies the precipitation type at each grid point,

applies differential Z-R relationships, corrects for the vertical profile of reflectivity, merges 

radar-based estimates with rain gauges, and estimates surface precipitation type. The proven 

accuracy and unprecedented high-resolution of the MRMS QPEs enables them to be used as 

forcing to a state-of-the-science flash flood prediction system.

The Flooded Locations And Simulated Hydrographs (FLASH) project takes advantage of the 

MRMS QPEs that capture rainfall at flash flood scale. The rainfall estimates are used to produce 

a suite of flash flooding products including the ratio of QPE-to-flash flood guidance, rainfall 

average recurrence interval, and streamflow forecasts from the Ensemble Framework for Flash 

Flood Forecasting (EF5). EF5 yields forecasts of flash flooding using two different water balance 

configurations out to 6 hours in the future at every grid point in the conterminous US. FLASH is 

presently running in real-time and will be transferred to NWS operations using the MRMS 

research-to-operations conduit. FLASH outputs have been evaluated by forecasters during the 

Flash Flooding and Intense Rainfall (FFaIR) testbed experiment at the Weather Prediction Center 

in 2013, the Hazardous Weather Testbed-Hydro experiment in 2014 and now during the 

Hydrometeorological Testbed-Hydro experiment in 2015. Objective evaluations of EF5 outputs 

have been conducted and show excellent skill in simulating peakflows in gauged basins. Given 

that the model parameters are based on observable features of the land surface, the same 

performance is to be expected in ungauged regions. The FLASH system offers an accurate, 

consistent, nation-wide solution for flash flood forecasting by the National Weather Service.

Department of Agriculture

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Within the Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program, there are a number of agency 

initiatives that support research and development in regards to system operations. These 

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initiatives include model development, quality assurance tools, radio and telemetry development, 

SCAN support, and radio spectrum management.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) conducts meteorological research to support 

licensing activities. Current research activities include updating the methods used to estimate the 

effects of extreme precipitation events, evaluating the use of paleoflood information to extend 

the historical record, and applying probabilistic techniques to riverine systems. The extreme 

precipitation work has been extended to consider the influence of orographic features. In 

addition, work has been initiated to start looking at flooding, including site-specific probable 

maximum precipitation, from a probabilistic perspective. Preliminary planning is underway to 

develop an integrated probabilistic approach for flood hazard assessment for nuclear power 

plants that will include advanced approaches for modeling meteorological and hydrological 

phenomena and systems. This work is prioritized for those areas of the United States where new 

nuclear power plants are proposed and will provide the design basis for flood protection systems, 

or where existing nuclear power plants have submitted analyses for the NRC to review. The 

work will be done in cooperation with the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation 

and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as other experts such as FERC, and the national 

lab system. The focus of NRC research in these areas is to accurately assess the potential hazard 

to safe operation of nuclear facilities from extremely rare hydrometeorological events.

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MILITARY SERVICES

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

For each of the military services with meteorological operational programs (U.S. Air Force, 

Navy, Army, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard), the discussion below first describes that service’s 

operational organizations, followed by a description of the principal meteorological products and 

services provided by these organizations. 

U.S. Air Force

Operational Organizations

Air Force weather organizations enable DoD decision-makers to anticipate and exploit the 

weather for air, ground, space, cyberspace, and intelligence operations. AF weather personnel 

provide mission-tailored terrestrial and space environment observations, forecasts, and services 

to the U.S. Air Force (USAF), U.S. Army (USA), and a variety of U.S. Government departments 

and agencies. 

The AF Director of Weather (AF/A3W) is aligned under the AF Directorate of Operations 

(AF/A3), Headquarters Air Force. The Director of Weather is responsible to organize, train and 

equip AF weather organizations, to include the following functions:

• Development of doctrine, policies, requirements, and standards for weather support for 

worldwide Air Force, Army, and Special Operations training and contingency operations

• Evaluation of weather support effectiveness for worldwide training and contingency 

operations

• Management of weather officer, enlisted, and civilian career fields

• Development and implementation of mid- to long-range plans for the organization, 

equipment, manpower, and technology necessary to meet future Air Force, Army, Special 

Operations, and other DoD Agency weather requirements

• Advising Air Staff and subordinate headquarters weather functional managers, regarding 

manpower, career field management, personnel utilization, training, operations policy and 

procedures, and technology acquisition

• Advocating and fielding standardized weather equipment to support worldwide training and 

contingency operations

For purposes of this Federal Plan, Military Services are those meteorological operations, services, and 

capabilities established to meet the unique requirements of military user commands and their 

component elements. Programs and services that are not uniquely military in nature are reported under 

another service category (e.g., Basic Services, Aviation Services [civilian], Surface Transportation 

Services, or Emergency Response and Homeland Security Services).

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AF weather operations operate with the Total Force concept, employing more than 4,000 Active 

Duty (AD) and Reserve Component military and civilian personnel supporting Air Force and 

Army conventional and special operations forces (SOF) worldwide. The majority of AF weather 

personnel are focused on two distinct, yet related functions: characterizing the past, current, and 

future state of the natural environment, and exploiting environmental information to provide 

actionable environmental impacts information directly to decision-makers.

Weather personnel must understand the tactics, techniques, and procedures of the supported 

military unit, and help decision-makers take advantage of favorable weather conditions or 

mitigate unfavorable weather effects. AF weather personnel support Air Force, Army, Joint, and 

DoD conventional and special operations at various garrison and deployed locations worldwide. 

AF weather personnel aligned with Army units directly support all aspects of Army ground and 

aviation operations, to include integration into the G-2 intelligence centers and Army Fire 

Support operations. Weather is a vital part of the intelligence estimate and is an essential element 

that supports the military decision-making process. Weather personnel assigned to these

commands provide expertise, products, and services that directly support the intelligence 

preparation of the battlespace (IPB) process by helping intelligence analysts to effectively 

evaluate, integrate, and synchronize weather effects for both enemy and friendly courses of 

action.

The AF weather support infrastructure is designed to readily deploy and operate in austere 

expeditionary environments. It is capable of providing sustained, comprehensive, and relevant 

weather support to all elements of an Air Expeditionary Force, as well as forward deployed air 

bases and stations of the establishment supporting that force. AF weather forces are organized in 

a 3-tier structure to maximize capabilities that can be accomplished in the rear area via “reachback” technology. This minimizes forward presence on the battlefield, making a “light and lean” 

presence consistent with the overall USAF vision for contingency operations in the 21st century. 

557th Weather Wing (557 WW). The Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA) was re-designated the 

557th Weather Wing in March 2015 as part of an Air Force-directed realignment effort. The 557 

WW is a special-mission wing aligned under Air Combat Command. It is the weather production 

center of the USAF in the first tier of the AF weather organizational structure. The 557 WW 

delivers worldwide weather products to Air Force and Army units, unified commands, National 

Programs, and the National Command Authorities. The 557 WW supplies weather products, 

training tools, and fields equipment to USAF Operational Weather Squadrons (OWS) and 

Weather Flights and provides 24-hour technical assistance on all standard weather systems and 

equipment. Additionally, they build and maintain the world’s most comprehensive weather 

database of observation, forecast, climatological, and space weather products available to DoD 

personnel on the World Wide Web. Under the AF weather 3-tier structure to support forward 

operations via reach-back technology, The 557 WW's 2nd Weather Squadron (2 WS) at Offutt 

AFB provides global coverage of forecaster-in-the-loop products to exploit environmental 

information necessary to effectively plan and conduct military operations at all levels of war, 

including providing dedicated support to the intelligence community, as well as backup for two 

national weather centers.

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Figure 1: Example of Air Force weather support products.

• The 1st Weather Group (1 WXG) aligns weather operations with the USAF warfighting 

initiative overseeing the OWSs. The 1 WXG has six subordinate OWSs whose areas of 

responsibility are aligned with the Geographic Combatant Command areas of responsibility.

They form the backbone of regionally focused, “reach-back” weather operations around the 

world, providing a variety of weather forecast products and support to units assigned to 

and/or deployed in their respective areas of responsibility.

• The 2nd Weather Group (2 WXG) delivers timely, relevant, and specialized terrestrial, space, 

and climatological global environmental intelligence to joint warfighters, U.S. DoD decision 

makers, national agencies, and allied nations for the planning and execution of missions 

across the complete spectrum of military operations through the operation, sustainment, and 

maintenance of the USAF's $288 million strategic center computer complex, production 

network, and applications.

Additional overview: http://www.557weatherwing.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-150325-

016.pdf

Operational Weather Squadrons. Around the world, the OWSs are the second tier of the AF 

weather organizational structure and provide continuous, complete environmental situational 

awareness. They are responsible for producing and disseminating mission-planning and missionexecution weather analyses, forecasts, and briefings for Air Force, Army, National Guard, and 

Reserve forces operating anywhere around the world.

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• The 15th OWS’s area of responsibility includes 149 installations/sites in a 22-state region of 

the northeastern United States.

• The 17th OWS’s area of responsibility covers more than 95 million square miles of the 

Pacific region including Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, Guam, Korea, and Japan.

• The 21st OWS’s area of responsibility includes Europe, Greenland, and most of Africa.

• The 25th OWS’s area of responsibility includes 79 installations/sites in an 11-state region of 

the western United States as well as support to the U.S. Southern Command area of 

responsibility.

• The 26th OWS’s area of responsibility includes 133 installations/sites in a seven-state region 

of the south central United States.

• The 28th OWS’s area of responsibility includes sites throughout the U.S. Central Command, 

including southwest Asia and Egypt.

Figure 2: Operational Weather Squadrons assigned to 1st Weather Group are aligned with Geographic 

Combatant Commander's Areas of Responsibility (AORs).

Weather Flights. At the installation-level or deployed in the field and focused on tactical 

weather support, USAF Weather Flights constitute the third tier of AF weather organizations and 

act as the primary interface with a USAF installation's flying and ground operations. Weather 

Flights are located at military installations around the world and are the “eyes forward” for the 

responsible OWS while providing tailored, mission-specific forecast products to their supported 

units on the installation.

Special Operations Weather. USAF special operations weather teams (SOWT) provide limited 

forward weather observations in denied areas and transmit them to a Joint Special Operations 

task force or next-echelon weather element on an as-required basis. The tailored weather 

information and knowledge provided enable planning, decision-making, and execution of SOF 

operations. USAF SOWT assigned to SOF units are expected to know and keep current on the 

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entire environment in the isolated locations to which their unit deploys. They provide mission 

execution forecast products to all Army special operations ground and aviation units.

USAF Weather Support to Conventional Army Operations. Weather Airmen aligned with 

Army units predict the effect weather will have on Army and joint operations, giving leadership 

at all levels the ability to adjust operational and tactical strategies to ensure mission success. 

Weather technicians and meteorologists assigned to support Army units are expected to forecast 

the weather anywhere their Army unit deploys. Air Force weather personnel supporting Army 

operations are trained in the basic and specialized soldier skills required to support their aligned 

Army unit, which could include the ability to parachute behind enemy lines and travel with a 

small platoon of soldiers providing on-the-scene weather information for a variety of missions.

Air Force Operational Climatology. The 14th Weather Squadron (14 WS) is stationed in 

Asheville, North Carolina, where it is co-located with the National Climatic Data Center, one of 

the environmental data centers under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 

(NOAA’s) National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS). The 14 

WS mission is to support DoD climatological requirements for engineering, planning, and 

operations to maximize mission effectiveness. For more information on the 14th Weather 

Squadron and the National Climatic Data Center, see the Climate Services section of this Federal 

Plan.

Space Weather Operations. USAF space weather forecasters provide space weather analyses, 

forecasts, and alert notification for all DoD agencies and U.S. Government systems. With 

observatories in Australia, Italy, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Hawaii, USAF space weather 

technicians maintain a continuous observational watch on the sun, which can emit 

electromagnetic energy and electrically charged particles capable of causing disturbances in the 

near-Earth environment and disrupting satellite operations and satellite-based communications. 

The mission of the USAF solar observatories is to monitor solar flares, noise storms, and other 

releases of energy from the sun and, when necessary, notify military and civilian organizations 

concerned with space weather, power, and communications in countries throughout the world. 

For further discussion of the complementary roles of USAF space weather operations and the 

National Weather Service’s (NWS) Space Weather Prediction Center, see the section on Space 

Weather Services.

USAF Reserve Component. The Reserve Component includes weather Airmen in both the Air 

Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and the Air National Guard (ANG). The USAF continues to 

integrate these forces to more closely align with active duty weather operations. AFRC weather 

personnel augment the active duty force at all three tiers. In some cases, the AFRC provides very 

unique weather-related services not duplicated in the active duty force, such as AFRC’s 53rd 

Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (53 WRS) (see “AFRC Hurricane Hunters,” below) and the 

ANG’s Weather Readiness Training Center. 

To augment OWS operations, AFRC organized two operational weather flights, each staffed by 

AFRC weather personnel, capable of augmenting an OWS either in the CONUS or overseas. 

Additional AFR weather personnel serve as individual mobilization augmentees assigned to 

various active AF weather organizations at all echelons, typically in staff, forecasting, or 

scientific roles. There are weather traditional reservists working with an AFRC Remotely Piloted 

Aircraft (RPA) unit. There are also AFR weather personnel in Air Reserve Technician positions, 

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i.e., combined full-time Civil Service/AFR military positions, employed by HQ AFRC as a staff 

weather officer and by the 53rd WRS as aerial reconnaissance weather officers. Lastly, AFRC 

civil service and contract weather personnel provide weather services at AFRC-operated bases in 

the CONUS. 

The ANG traditional program consists of 27 numbered weather flights, ranging in size from 13 

to 25 personnel, who meet monthly to train for their wartime mission. These flights provide 

weather support to ANG and Army National Guard units. Air Combat Command (ACC)-gained 

ANG wings also have up to four traditional weather positions to provide weather operations for 

each wing’s flying mission. In addition, there are traditional weather positions in two ANG 

Special Tactics Squadrons (AF Special Operations Command), and four ANG RPA units (e.g., 

Predator). The ANG also has seven contract and four civil service locations where it is 

responsible for providing peacetime weather support to airfield operations.

Air Force Products and Services

Satellite Services. The USAF operates a satellite data processing center, ingesting and storing 

worldwide meteorological satellite (METSAT) data. The Defense Meteorological Satellite 

Program (DMSP), which provides cloud, upper air, and space environmental data, is a vital 

source of global weather data used to support combat operations and has been collecting weather 

data for U.S. military operations for more than 5 decades. Onboard sensors provide AF weather 

organizations and the Navy’s Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) 

with visible, infrared, and microwave imagery, plus temperature and moisture sounding data. 

The DMSP also supplies direct, real-time readouts of regional imagery and mission-sensor data 

to DoD land-based and shipboard terminals located worldwide. 

There are two primary operational DMSP satellites in polar orbit at about 450 nautical miles 

(nominal) at all times. The primary weather sensor on DMSP is the Operational Linescan 

System, which provides continuous visual and infrared imagery of cloud cover over an area 

1,600 nautical miles wide. Worldwide coverage of weather features is accomplished every 12 

hours providing essential data over data-sparse or data-denied areas. Additional satellite sensors 

measure atmospheric vertical profiles of moisture and temperature. Military weather forecasters 

can detect developing patterns of weather and track existing weather systems over remote areas, 

including the presence of severe thunderstorms, hurricanes, and typhoons.

In addition to DMSP polar-orbiting data, the USAF receives stored data from NOAA’s 

operational polar-orbiting geostationary environmental satellites; European METSAT 

(EUMETSAT) geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites, as well as the primary Japanese 

geostationary meteorological satellite. (The USAF currently receives data from the National 

Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) Moderate Resolution Imaging 

Spectroradiometer (MODIS), Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), and Aqua 

Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-E (AMSR-E); NOAA’s Washington Volcanic Ash 

Advisory Center (VAAC); and NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).

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Space Launch Support.

USAF meteorological support 

for space launches is 

discussed in the Other 

Specialized Services section 

of this plan.

Air and Space Natural 

Environment Modeling and 

Simulation. The Air Force 

Director of Weather carries 

out the DoD Air and Space 

Natural Environment 

Modeling and Simulation 

Executive Agent (ASNE 

MSEA) responsibilities of 

managing, coordinating, and 

implementing all aspects of 

modeling and simulation, 

relating to the Air and Space 

Natural Environment domain 

to include, but not limited to, 

planning, programming, monitoring, and reporting across all DoD Components in accordance 

with the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics memorandum to 

the Secretary of the Air Force designating the Department of the Air Force as the MSEA for air 

and space natural environment representations. The DoD ASNE MSEA ensures DoD 

communities that use simulations for their training, acquisition, testing, planning, 

experimentation, and analysis have the right tools, infrastructure, and databases necessary to 

represent the air and space natural environment and its effects.

AFRC Hurricane Hunters. The AFRC’s 53 WRS, also 

known as the “Hurricane Hunters,” provides another 

means of collecting vital meteorological data, especially 

in and around tropical cyclones. Their specially 

equipped WC-130J aircraft collect temperature, 

moisture, wind, pressure, and visually observed 

information at the aircraft location as well as vertical 

profiles of the atmosphere collected by dropsondes. 

Hurricane Hunter aircraft penetrate the eyes of tropical 

cyclones to provide the National Hurricane Center very 

accurate center fix locations as well as other 

meteorological parameters, including sea level pressure. 

In addition to tropical cyclone reconnaissance, the 53 

WRS collects meteorological information to improve 

wintertime West Coast forecasts and to support 

scientific field programs when possible.

Four-dimensional weather scenarios provide realistic simulations 

of weather effects on operations and are integrated into live, 

virtual and constructive (LVC) training.

The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance 

Squadron “Hurricane Hunters,” 

gathering atmospheric data to 

relay to the National Hurricane 

Center for their forecast models. 

(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. 

Valerie Smock)

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Air Force Aviation Weather Support. As previously discussed, 1st Weather Group (1 WXG) has 

six subordinate OWSs that form the backbone of regionally focused, “reach-back” weather 

operations, providing a variety of weather forecast products and support to units assigned to 

and/or deployed into their supported areas of responsibility (AORs). These OWSs provide 

operational weather support and resource protection for personnel and military installations in

their respective AORs around the globe. Operational support to the USAF, Army, Navy, Marine, 

Guard, Reserve and regional Combatant Commanders includes graphical analysis, aviation 

terminal aerodrome forecasts, severe weather watches/warnings and advisories, and mission 

execution forecasts, such as aviation hazards and en route and target forecasts. Additionally, the 

OWSs provide flight weather briefings to aircrews, operating within their AOR without home 

station support or as requested by base or post-level weather forces. The 15th OWS, located at 

Scott AFB, IL, provides short-term backup services for the National Weather Services’ Storm 

Prediction Center (SPC) and Aviation Weather Center (AWC). In the event of an extended or 

catastrophic outage at either SPC or AWC, essential staff would relocate to the 557 WW facility 

at Offutt AFB, NE, where system and communications infrastructure exists to support relocation 

backup of these critical national missions. At AF bases and Army posts, AF weather flights or 

detachments focus on their supported unit’s mission requirements. These weather personnel 

provide and disseminate observations and develop tailored mission execution forecasts based on 

centrally produced guidance. For AF operations, these weather professionals are normally 

assigned to a flight under an operations support squadron of an AF flying wing; however, 

individuals from the weather flight are integrated into flying squadron mission planning and 

execution processes. For Army operations, the AF weather personnel typically fall under an air 

support operations group (ASOG) and are integrated into all echelons of Army operations, from 

the corps down to the brigade combat team level. In this capacity, weather personnel supporting 

AF and Army aviation operations infuse critical weather information at key points in decisionmaking cycles to help decision-makers maximize wartime capabilities, enhance flight safety, and 

optimize training effectiveness.

Volcanic Ash Surveillance and Analysis. One of the roles of the 2nd Weather Group is to 

provide volcanic ash surveillance and analysis for DoD aviation operations worldwide. Analysts 

continuously monitor all active volcanoes, generating more than 3,500 bulletins per year. 

Tailored satellite imagery, graphical ash plume forecasts, and text bulletins provide vital 

information needed to mitigate airborne volcanic ash as a threat to flight safety. The 2nd Weather 

Group also provides critical backup for NOAA’s Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center.

Air Operations Center Support. AF weather personnel are aligned under the combat operations 

division of air operations centers. This flexible weather support element integrates environmental 

information at key decision points of air and space operations planning, execution, and 

assessment. Armed with this information, decision-makers can balance operational risks against 

mission need to optimize timing, tactics, target and weapons selection, and other factors affecting 

air and space operations.

Education and Training. USAF officers newly accessed into the weather career field are 

university graduates with degrees in meteorology/atmospheric science. Further, the USAF sends

approximately ten officers per year to obtain advanced degrees, both M.S. and Ph.D., through the 

Air Force Institute of Technology. New enlisted weather personnel attend the rigorous ninemonth Weather Apprentice Course at Keeler AFB, MS. At their first weather duty assignment, 

they gain a combination of operational experience and further skill upgrade training in 

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accordance with the enlisted weather career field education and training plan. Continuation 

training programs for both officer and enlisted personnel ensure continuous learning appropriate 

to the supported mission and location. This education and training process ensures Air Force 

weather personnel possess both breadth and depth of meteorological knowledge and experience 

supporting atmospheric and space weather collection, prediction, analysis, tailoring, integration 

and risk management processes as they apply to employment of multiple weapon systems and 

capabilities for both the Army and the Air Force.

Air Force Aviation Weather Products and Services

NextGen Development. The USAF weather function continues active collaboration with the 

Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) program, which is described more fully 

in the Aviation Weather Services section of this Federal Plan. Experiences gained through 

implementation of DoD’s Joint METOC Data Base and machine-to-machine data services used 

by the Air Force’s primary automated mission planning systems are providing valuable lessons 

learned for NextGen’s development. Air Force Weather Ensemble Prediction System (AFWEPS) 

is also providing valuable path-finding insight into the utility and delivery of probabilistic 

aviation impacts that is a requirement for NextGen.

Weather System Upgrades. In FY 2016, the USAF will continue to upgrade weather systems and 

processes that support all DoD aviation. Continued refinements of the Joint Environmental 

Toolkit along with upgraded surface weather sensors will produce more accurate and timely 

weather observation and forecast products.

U.S. Army

USA Weather Support Structure

Weather support within the Army is a mix of Army and Air Force personnel and equipment in 

accordance with a United States Army (USA)–United States Air Force (USAF) agreement: 

Army Regulation [AR] 115-10/Air Force Instruction [AFI] 15-157 (IP), Weather Support for the 

U.S. Army, 6 January 2010. This multi-Service regulation describes the responsibilities of USAF 

and USA for providing weather support. Under this agreement, the USAF provides the Army 

with the necessary labor and unique tactical and fixed weather equipment to meet Army tactical, 

installation, and airfield support requirements for both Active and Reserve Components. The 

USAF assigns Air Force weather personnel to provide direct and indirect weather support to the 

Army Commands, Army Service Component Commands, and installations. The Army provides 

assigned Air Force personnel the equipment necessary to perform their Army support mission in 

the tactical environment. The Army also provides facilities and host services to Air Force 

personnel assigned to Army installations. Each Service provides this support on a nonreimbursable basis.

Air Force Weather personnel provide installation, garrison, and tactical weather support on a 

daily basis to U.S. Army Forces Command, U.S. Army Europe, U.S. Army Pacific, U.S. Army 

Special Operations Command, Eighth U.S. Army, and the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine 

Command (TRADOC). The Army provides operational weather support to Army research, 

development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) ranges, centers, and other research facilities using 

the Army Test and Evaluation Command’s meteorological teams. U.S. Army Space and Missile 

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Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command (SMDC/ARSTRAT) provides weather 

support to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll through a 

Meteorological Environmental Test Support contractor.

Headquarters, Department of the Army, Army Commands, and Army Service 

Component Commands

Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA) The Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2, 

employs two civilian meteorologists whose primary duties are to establish weather policy within 

the Army, coordinate on AF weather policy issues with the Air Force Director of Weather (HQ 

USAF/A3/5), submit approved Army weather requirements and priorities to the HQ USAF/A3/5, 

coordinate with the AF on Army-AF and Joint Service weather operational concepts and 

doctrine, serve as the Army staff lead for meteorological satellite capabilities and issues, and 

review and coordinate Army-related support issues with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, 

the Joint Staff, the Department of the AF, other Services, HQDA staffs, Army Commands, 

Direct Reporting Units, Army Service Component Commands, and other Federal Agencies. FY 

2015 activities will focus on meteorological satellite activities, coordination of meteorological 

activities within the Army, and development of DoD level policy with the Services, Joint Staff, 

and OSD.

The Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7 (DCS, G-3/5/7), approves and prioritizes 

weather support requirements and programs to meet Army requirements, sets priorities for 

weather support for Army training and contingencies, coordinates with the HQ USAF on Army 

weather program and resource issues, and Army installation weather support requirements.

Project Manager Distributed Common Ground System – Army (PM DCGS-A) is a materiel 

developer of weather capability in the Army and reports to Program Executive Office 

Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (PEO IEWS) and Assistant Secretary of the Army 

for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)). DCGS-A work stations are provided to 

Air Force weather personnel to tailor current and forecast weather information into specific 

weather effects across the warfighting functions for exploitation in intelligence and operations 

processes. In addition to developing, integrating, testing, and fielding capability, PM DCGS-A 

also leverages Air Force weather capability in support of Army operations.

Training and Doctrine Command. Headquarters, TRADOC, is responsible for leading the USA 

in development of and validating requirements for all Army weather capabilities and specifically 

for USA-USAF inter-Service weather operations, services concepts, and doctrine required in

support of Army operations. TRADOC develops and manages USA weather training programs, 

documents standard USA equipment for use by AFW personnel in the Table of Organization and 

Equipment (TOE), and recommends modifications to the TOE and Common Table of 

Allowances to DCS, G-3/5/7, for approval as required. TRADOC’s Army Weather Proponent 

Office (AWPO) processes tactical Army weather support requirements, represents the Army’s 

warfighting functions by determining needed weather capabilities and processing weather 

requirements found in Joint and USA conceptual documents from TRADOC centers and schools.

Key mission areas for the next few years: (1) assist the TRADOC equivalent USAF weather 

command with development and implementation of a new weather support concepts to meet the 

needs of the USA and USAF’s evolving force structures; (2) update Army and multi-service 

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weather support doctrine, policy, organization, concepts, along with tactics, techniques, and 

procedures with the equivalent USAF command; (3) ensure weather lessons learned and after 

action concerns with AF weather support to USA operations are documented, communicated, 

and resolved between Army and Air Force organizations to positively influence doctrine, 

organization, training, material, leadership education, policy, and facilities (DOTMLPF); and (4) 

ensure USA weather support processes and procedures are trained across the TRADOC schools 

and centers. These mission areas are accomplished in coordination with the equivalent USAF 

Weather organization and TRADOC.

U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence. The U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence 

(USAICoE) is the TRADOC Army Weather Proponent Office (AWPO) for USA tactical weather 

support. As such, TRADOC’s AWPO represents the USA Warfighter by processing weather 

support requirements and developing solutions to satisfy those requirements when they are the 

responsibility of the USA. The AWPO collects and processes weather requirements from 

TRADOC schools/centers, USA Medical Command, and USA Corps of Engineers (USACE). It 

collaborates with HQDA and Headquarters, USAF, to recommend solutions to satisfy those 

requirements by processing tactical USA weather support requirements through the Joint 

Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) process. The AWPO employs one 

Department of the Army Civilian (DAC) to lead these weather requirement efforts. This DAC 

oversees the AWPO efforts with the JCIDS process, and in all doctrine, organization, training, 

materiel, leadership, education, personnel, and facilities (DOTMLPF) work. This JCIDS and 

DOTMLPF work occurs within USAICoE and in conjunction with other USA Centers of 

Excellence and Army research and experimentation organizations.

U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence (USAACE). USAACE provides 10 courses in the 

aviation training curriculum that contain weather training for aviators and unmanned aircraft 

systems operators. USAACE is in the process of acquiring excess automated surface observing 

systems from the Air Force to enhance flight safety at several training airfields.

Artillery Meteorological Education and Training. The U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence is 

the proponent for artillery meteorological education and training. Computer Meteorological 

Data- Profiler (CMD-P) (AN/GMK-2) is a weather measurement system developed to provide 

meteorological (MET) data to support artillery and target acquisition units. The AN/TSR-8 

Global Broadcast Service (GBS) Satellite Receiver Suite receives polar orbiter MET data & 

communications satellite data and Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System 

(NOGAPS) initialization data via a GBS satellite link. CMD-P provides MET data messages 

covering up to 500 km from the Profiler’s position. The CMD-P interfaces with the Advanced 

Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) via Local Area Network (LAN) connection and 

is operated by the AFATDS Operator 13D. In the future, the system will no longer require the 

GBS receiver suite as part of a profiler system but will rely on the GBS connection from the 

TOC LAN (MET data is downloaded on Compact Disc via internet from the 557th Weather 

Wing). The system software will be capable of providing Field Artillery Computer MET and 

Gridded MET messages on demand with or without an operator in-the-loop. These MET 

messages will be tailored to the mid-point of the trajectory for enhanced accuracy.

U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC). ATEC is responsible for providing 

operational meteorological support to USA RDT&E ranges. Under responsibilities established in 

AR 115-10/ AFI 15-157 (IP), ATEC meteorological units provide meteorological data collection 

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and analysis, and consultation to support USA and other DoD RDT&E activities at seven ATEC 

ranges. The Meteorology Division at West Desert Test Center, located at Dugway Proving 

Ground, is the technical lead for the ATEC Meteorology Program.

U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command Support to 

the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site. A subcommand of SMDC/ARSTRAT 

provides operational support to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, including 

support for range activities (local and remote missile launches), missile weapons readiness 

testing, aviation and marine operations, and emergency operations. For further description of this 

support service, see “Other Specialized Services” in Section 2.

U.S. Army Products and Services

U.S. Army Artillery. The Profiler Block III provides highly accurate meteorological data to the 

Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems (AFATDS) to adjust artillery fire. The system 

supports battalion and brigade Field Artillery units. The Profiler Block III is connected to the 

Tactical Operations Center local area network and provides the Advanced Field Artillery 

Tactical Data Systems (AFATDS) with the meteorological requirement for achieving first round 

hits and fires for effect. The Profiler Block III uses weather data obtained from the Air Force 

through Mission Command networks. It provides meteorological on demand with or without an 

operator in-the-loop to the AFATDS. A virtual module product improvement is currently under 

development and will be available in FY16 with an upgraded weather model and changing the 

software to be Common Operating Environment compliant.

Distributed Common Ground System–Army (DCGS-A). Weather Services. DCGS-A weather 

services enables the Staff Weather Officer and intelligence operators to integrate weather effects 

in Intelligence Preparation of The Battlefield, Military Decision Making Processes, and Mission 

Command. DCGS-A exploits AF weather capability through reach-back, utilizes DCGS-A 

tools/applications, employs Ozone Widget technology, and Data Distribution Service to 

distribute weather information to users throughout the enterprise.

U.S. Navy

Operational Organizations

Oceanographer of the Navy. Naval Oceanography encompasses Meteorology and 

Oceanography (METOC), Geospatial Information and Services (GI&S), Precise Time and 

Astrometry (PTA) under the sponsorship of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). The 

Oceanographer of the Navy (OPNAV N2/N6E) is the Secretary of the Navy and Chief of Naval 

Operation's principal advisor for Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC), Maritime Domain 

Awareness, Navy Space, Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT), and performs functions 

relating to external interfaces with national and international operational and research and 

development oceanographic organizations and activities.

The Oceanographer and Navigator of the Navy, serves as the focal point for matters related to 

the Naval Oceanography enterprise (NOe), the Arctic region, and other marine science fields. 

The Oceanographer and his staff work closely with Information Dominance Type Command 

(IDFOR), U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Pacific Command (USPACOM), and the Office of Naval 

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Research to ensure the proper resources are available to meet 

operational requirements. As the functional manager for GI&S, he 

works within the National System for Geospatial-Intelligence (NSG) 

and liaises with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), 

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and the Department of 

Homeland Security (DHS) for strategic METOC and PNT programs. 

He acts as Naval Deputy to the NOAA Administrator and represents 

the Naval Oceanography Program in interagency and international 

forums.

The Navigator of the Navy provides guidance and standardization of 

METOC, maritime geospatial information, astrometric and precisetime models, databases, and environmental predictive techniques 

through the Oceanographic and Atmospheric Model Library 

(OAML). He coordinates NOe policy and architectures throughout 

Navy and DoD science and technology and RDT&E, along with 

related efforts in civilian agencies and develops means for transition 

from research to operational (R2O) applications. This integrated 

approach provides the Fleet and System Commands (SYSCOM) with critical information about 

the physical environment and its impacts on platforms, sensors, weapons, and personnel. Naval 

Meteorology and Oceanography support is integral to Navy, Marine Corps, and Joint Force 

capabilities to deter or win regional conflicts or major wars and conduct peacetime operations, 

including Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR).

In 2014 CNO established the Information Dominance Forces Command (IDFOR) the Navy’s 

newest TYCOM on 29 August 2014. IDFOR integrates weather into the intelligence pillars of 

Figure 3: Rear Admiral 

Jonathan W. White 

(OPNAV N2N6E) 

Oceanographer and 

Navigator of the Navy; 

Official U.S. Navy 

Photograph

Figure 4: Organization of the Deputy, Chief of Naval Operations (DCNO) for Information 

Dominance (OPNAV N2N6) showing placement of the Oceanographer and Navigator of the 

Navy, as the Director, Oceanography, Space, and Maritime Awareness, and PNT.

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Battlespace Awareness, Assured Fires, and Assured Command and Control. With this integrated 

man, train and equip (MT&E) portfolio, IDFOR will coordinate closely with the aviation, surface 

ship, and submarine platform TYCOMs to deliver enhanced Information Dominance capability 

and readiness to the fleet.

Figure 5: The Information Dominance Forces Command (IDFOR) with its Naval Linkages

This Command and Control (C2) preserves CNMOC as the Operational Commander which 

leaves echelon IV operations largely unchanged, and the focus of upcoming Implementation is to 

define and exercise the processes that will support the TYCOM's mission, functions, and tasks 

(i.e., Manpower, Equipment, Training, Financial Operations, and Readiness Reporting).

Administrative Control (ADCON) for above tasks shifts from CNMOC to TYCOM though some 

residual capability will exist at CNMOC to directly facilitate operations.

Task Force Climate Change (TFCC). The Oceanographer of the Navy serves as Director of 

TFCC and develops comprehensive approaches regarding the Arctic and global climate change 

to guide future Navy public, policy, and strategy discussions. The National Strategy for the 

Arctic Region signed in 2013, recognizes that the Arctic is opening up for human enterprise, 

energy resources and will continue to increase as a strategic priority for the United States and 

Navy.

The U.S. Navy Arctic Implementation Plan was issued in February 2015 and prepares the U.S. 

Navy to respond effectively to future contingencies, delineates the U.S. Navy’s Arctic Region 

leadership role within the Defense Department, and articulates the Navy’s support to national 

priorities. The Arctic and climate change Roadmaps provide all encompassing, chronological, 

science-based guidance for future Navy operational and action from 2014 through 2030.

• Arctic Observation/Prediction International Engagement Plan

 ONR leading development effort through Interagency Arctic Research Policy (IARPC) 

Committee

• Arctic Sensing Plan

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 R&D collection efforts ongoing

 OPNAV developing sensing strategy => POM 17

• Improve Modeling/Prediction of Arctic Environment

 ONR funding R&D of long-range Arctic models

 NRL sea ice prediction model

Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. The Naval Meteorology and Oceanography 

Command (COMNAVMETOCCOM) is responsible for the Command and management of the 

Naval Oceanography Program (NOP) utilizing meteorology and oceanography, GI&S, 

and precise time and astrometry, to leverage the environment to enable successful strategic, 

tactical and operational battle space utilization across the continuum of campaigning and at all 

levels of war: strategic, operational and tactical. COMNAVMETOCCOM will retain 

administrative control (ADCON) over the METOC fourth echelon commands, reporting to the 

Information Dominance Typer Command (IDFOR), and serving as the operational arm of the 

NOe. COMNAVMETOCCOM's assets are globally distributed at shore facilities in fleet 

concentration areas.

Two central METOC Production Centers are located in the U.S. and operate through the Naval 

Oceanography Operations Command (NAVOCEANOPSCOM) at the Stennis Space Center 

(SSC) in Mississippi. As the Navy’s physical science team, Naval METOC personnel (Navy and 

Marine Corps) are highly educated sailors, marines, and civilians that measure and collect 

meteorological, oceanographic, hydrographic and other data relevant to the physical battlespace. 

They use the data to analyze and determine current conditions, forecast the future state, and 

provide mission-focused impacts that enable commanders to make well-informed operational 

decisions across the entire spectrum of warfare. Operational oceanography operates along eight 

distinct lines of operations: maritime operations, aviation operations, fleet operations, navigation, 

precise time and astrometry, expeditionary warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and mine warfare. 

Maritime operations enable the safe operation of ships and submarines at sea through 

individualized forecasts, monitoring of their movement relative to hazardous weather, and 

alternate route advisories as warranted. Aviation operations are similar, but focus on the safe 

navigation of aircraft. Fleet operations represent our oceanography forces deployed on aircraft 

carriers, amphibious assault ships, independent deployers and task forces. METOC and 

Navigation services enable safety of surface and subsurface operations and support the Global 

Positioning System, networks, communications, and space-based systems. Expeditionary warfare 

(amphibious warfare, riverine warfare and special operations), antisubmarine warfare, and mine 

warfare (offensive mining and defensive countermeasures and clearance), as their names imply, 

support their respective warfare areas via a mixture of forward-deployed and reach-back 

capabilities required to provide intelligence preparation of the operational environment (IPOE). 

COMNAVMETOCCOM is focused on providing critical environmental knowledge to the war 

fighting disciplines of Anti-Submarine Warfare; Naval Special Warfare; Mine Warfare; 

Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance; and Fleet Operations (Strike and Expeditionary), 

as well as to the support areas of Maritime Operations, Aviation Operations, Navigation, Precise 

Time, and Astrometry. Major activities and additional subordinates within the command include 

the following:

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• NAVOCEANOPSCOM, Stennis Space Center, MS

• Fleet Weather Center Norfolk and Fleet Weather Center San Diego with subordinate units 

and detachments

• Naval Special Warfare Oceanography Center in San Diego, CA, (with components and 

detachments in Stuttgart, Germany, Norfolk, and Pearl Harbor)

• Naval Oceanography Anti-Submarine Warfare Centers in Yokosuka, Japan, and Stennis 

Space Center, MS (with subordinate detachments)

• Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO), Stennis Space Center, MS

• Fleet Survey Team, Stennis Space Center, MS

• Naval Ice Center, Suitland, MD

• Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC), Monterey, CA

• USNO, Washington, DC

• Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Professional Development Center, Gulfport, MS, with 

detachments in Norfolk, VA; San Diego, CA; Pearl Harbor, HI; and Yokosuka, Japan

Naval Oceanography Operations Command. NAVOCEANOPSCOM is an echelon four 

METOC command that coordinates and manages efforts among field activities under the 

Operational Oceanography enterprise to optimize warfighting resources, support safe operations, 

and enhance decision superiority within the battlespace through superior understanding and 

exploitation of the environment. The Command encompasses warfighting and enabling 

directorates for: Aviation Operations, Maritime Operations, Fleet Operations, Precise Time and 

Astronomy, Navigation, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), Mine Warfare, 

Naval Special Warfare, and Anti-Submarine Warfare. Each directorate determines how that 

directorate’s services are delivered globally. Each directorate reports to a single Navy Captain 

Figure 6: Organization of Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command within the U.S. Fleet 

Forces Command structure

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who functions as Naval Oceanography’s Director of Operational Oceanography (DOO). The 

operations support portion of USN/USMC budget funds the day-to-day environmental support to 

the Department of Defense, the Active and Reserve Components of the Navy and Marine Corps, 

ten unified commands, and other agencies as directed by the Chief of Naval Operations. Over 

1,228 military and civilian personnel conduct these activities at more than 22 locations 

worldwide.

Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center. FNMOC, is an echelon four activity 

reporting to CNMOC, is the NOe production center for meteorology. This center plays a 

significant role in the national capability for operational weather and ocean prediction by 

implementing, operating, maintaining, and improving Numerical Weather Production (NWP) 

systems, including global and regional METOC models that extend from the top of the 

atmosphere to the bottom of the ocean. Since the end of the Navy’s Geosat Follow-On (GFO) 

satellite, the military has been reliant on the Ocean Surface Topography Mission for radar 

altimetry, a unique source for atmospheric, oceanographic, and geodetic data. Navy is working 

with NOAA to find partnership opportunities through the JASON radar altimetry program.

Through close collaboration with NAVOCEANO, FNMOC is also a key component in the 

Navy’s operational weather and ocean prediction program. Naval operational oceanography is 

the key contributor to providing the predictive, physical maritime battlespace awareness 

capability. In the future, vital information from both intelligence and oceanography professionals 

will be fused into the same common operational picture afloat, providing a view of the 

battlespace we can only imagine today, ensuring better and faster warfighting decisions.

Naval Oceanographic Office. NAVOCEANO is the NOe’s production center for oceanography. 

Since atmospheric conditions are inherently coupled to oceanographic conditions, the Navy’s 

program in meteorology is closely linked with oceanography, which is the focus of the 

NAVOCEANO, Stennis Space Center, Mississippi. NAVOCEANO’s primary responsibilities 

include the collection, processing, and distribution of oceanographic, hydrographic, and other 

geophysical data and products. NAVOCEANO is responsible for the administration of a fleet of 

ocean-class hydrographic survey vessels and data 

from both aviation assets and spacecraft 

NAVOCEANO is headquartered at the Stennis 

Space Center, which is home to the Navy 

Department of Defense Supercomputing 

Resource Center that Navy, Army, and Air Force 

scientists and researchers use to design tools and 

weapons systems that support the Department of 

Defense’s global mission. The Navy DSRC is a 

premier provider of high performance computing 

services and support to DoD scientists and 

engineers. It is one of five supercomputing 

centers established under the DoD High 

Performance Computing Modernization Program 

(HPCMP). CNMOC maintains oversight of the 

Navy DSRC systems that have been operational 

since 1997.The Navy DSRC provides a high 

performance computing capability with primary 

Figure 7: NAVOCEANO makes use of many 

Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles for data collection

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emphasis on support of the largest, most computationally-intensive HPC applications. Our center 

leads the way for numerous HPCMP-wide initiatives and provides our users with in-depth 

computational expertise and support. While the HPCMP is primarily focused on DoD research 

and development programs, the Navy DSRC is unique in that approximately 15 percent of its 

total capability is apportioned for operational use by naval operational oceanography. Today, the 

Navy DSRC enables, on a daily basis, operational, global, regional, and port scale ocean 

circulation, as well as wave and sea ice forecast numerical models supporting worldwide Navy 

and DoD operations. Navy DSRC’s total computational capacity affords us computational space 

to not only improve our ocean models, but to bring online world-class atmospheric models 

within the DSRC and begin to more tightly couple ocean and atmospheric physics and energy 

exchange to provide a more accurate, longer range future state of the atmosphere.

Navy Products and Services

Maritime Weather Operations. The Fleet Weather Center in Norfolk, VA supports operations 

for Commander Second Fleet (North Atlantic); Commander, Fourth Fleet (Caribbean Sea and 

South Atlantic); Commander, Sixth Fleet (Mediterranean Sea), and Arctic Region operations.

The Fleet Weather Center in San Diego, CA supports operations for the Commander, Third Fleet 

(East Pacific); Commander, Fifth Fleet (Arabian Sea and Suez Canal); Commander, Seventh 

Fleet (West and Central Pacific) 

areas of responsibilities.

Navy meteorologists and forecasters 

provide Optimum Track Ship 

Routing (OTSR) and weather 

forecasts to support transoceanic 

voyages and coastal operations. 

OTSR services include:

• Hazardous ocean and weather 

advisories and divert 

recommendations to ship 

Commanding Officers and 

Masters at sea

• Sortie recommendations for 

potentially damaging weather 

conditions in port

• Preliminary climatologic outlooks for transit and mission planning

• Routine ship weather forecasts and aviation weather forecasts for ship-based helicopters, to 

include high wind and seas warnings and local area warnings for Fleet Concentration Areas

Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). The JTWC, established by the U.S. Pacific Command, 

is jointly manned with U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force personnel. JTWC services include tropical 

cyclone forecasts, warnings, and other products for DoD Warfighters operating in the Pacific and 

Indian Oceans. JTWC, located in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is an internationally recognized tropical 

cyclone forecasting center.

Figure 8: AGC Timothy P. Crowley seeding the currents with 

data collection capabilities to feed the oceanographic models and 

to help with para-rescue operations in the Horn of Africa AOR.

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FNMOC Numerical Weather Prediction Systems. FNMOC satisfies the military’s requirement 

for an operational global Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) capability. This requirement is 

driven by the importance of weather and ocean conditions on modern military operations, the 

need to use classified weather observations to guarantee the very best weather and ocean 

predictions in theaters of conflict, and the imperative to produce and disseminate weather and 

ocean products to military decision makers without fear of interruption or compromise as a result 

of cyber terrorists or cyber warfare. FNMOC employs four primary models—the Navy Global 

Environmental Model (NAVGEM), the Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction 

System (COAMPS), the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Navy (GFDN) model, and the Wave 

Watch III model (WW3)—along with a number of specialized models and related applications. 

• NAVGEM is an improvement to the former Navy Operational Global Atmospheric System 

(NOGAPS) that drives nearly all other FNMOC models and applications in some fashion, 

and forms the basis for the FNMOC global Ensemble Forecast System. 

• COAMPS is a high-resolution, non-hydrostatic regional model, multiply nested within 

NAVGEM. It has proven to be particularly valuable for forecasting weather and ocean 

conditions in highly complex coastal areas. 

• GFDN is a moving-nest tropical cyclone model, nested within NAVGEM. It is used to 

forecast tropical cyclone tracks globally.

• WW3 is a spectral ocean wave model that is employed both globally (driven by NAVGEM) 

and regionally (driven by COAMPS) in support of a wide variety of naval operations.

FNMOC Products and Services. FNMOC’s complex and robust operational prediction 

capability is designed to deliver detailed 

forecasts of wind stresses and heat 

fluxes to drive very high-resolution 

ocean models that provide ocean 

thermal structure and currents in support 

of anti-submarine and mine warfare 

operations, or near-shore wind, sea, and 

surf forecasts that directly support Fleet 

Operations through ship-to-objective 

maneuver. FNMOC models feed 

directly into applications models, 

tactical decision aids, and other products 

that provide direct support to various 

weather-sensitive activities associated 

with the optimum path aircraft routing, 

optimum track ship routing, issuance of 

high-winds and high-seas warnings, 

hurricane/typhoon sortie decisions, covert ingress/egress of Special Operations Forces, ballistic 

missile targeting, cruise missile launch and targeting, radar, EO, and FLIR system performance 

prediction in support of ship self-defense, naval gunfire operations, understanding the threats 

posed by airborne nuclear/biological/chemical agents, search-and-rescue at sea, and many other 

activities.

Figure 9: AG1 James Patterson with the 82nd 

Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, preparing a forecast.

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Many of FNMOC’s products are distributed to users over the Web via the PC-based METCAST 

system, and subsequently displayed and manipulated on the user’s PC with the Joint METOC 

Viewer (JMV) software. This includes all standard METOC fields, synoptic observations, and 

satellite imagery. FNMOC provides a Web-based capability called WxMap (i.e., “Weather 

Map”). WxMap, requiring only a Web browser for access, allows the user to select and quickly 

display predicted METOC fields for any user-defined geographical area. FNMOC benefits 

greatly from collocation with its supporting R&D activity, the Marine Meteorology Division of 

the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL/MRY). NRL/MRY is a world-class research organization, 

with focus on weather-related support to warfighting. FNMOC and NRL/MRY share space, data, 

software and computer systems, and together with the nearby Naval Postgraduate School 

represent one of the largest concentrations of weather-related intellectual capital in the Nation. 

Collocation and close cooperation between research and operations, such as exists between 

NRL/MRY and FNMOC, is the optimum arrangement for transitioning R&D quickly and cost 

effectively into new and improved operational weather prediction capabilities.

NAVOCEANO Products and Services. NAVOCEANO is the Navy's center for operational 

oceanographic support and provides daily analyses and forecasts of the ocean state with a series 

of global, regional, and coastal ocean circulation and wave models. The core of the system is the 

dynamic Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM) which predicts three-dimensional ocean 

properties to 96 hours. The 1/8 degree (14km/7.5nm) resolution Global NCOM covers the world 

from pole to pole and is coupled with the Arctic Polar Ice Prediction System, which forecasts ice 

properties for the National Ice Center. Twelve regional NCOMs are on line with 24 planned in 

2014. Nested 1/36 degree (3km/1.7nm) regional NCOM domains of order 20 by 20 degree sizes 

provide high-resolution ocean forecasts in areas of Navy and national interest. Global and 

regional NCOM products and data fields are shared with our NOAA partners. 

NAVOCEANO runs a series of coastal, estuarine, and river domains with resolutions as fine as 

1/360 degree (300 m, 1000 ft) or less in the support of mine warfare and homeland security 

efforts. When appropriate, coastal NCOMs are supplemented by other models including 

HYDROMAP, DELFT3D, and PCTIDES. The NCOMs are initiated through the assimilation of 

ocean data from satellites (sea surface temperature and altimetry) and various surface and 

subsurface observing systems, including ship data, ARGO profiling floats, and gliders. Global 

NCOM will be replaced by the 1/12-degree resolution Global HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model, 

which was developed under the National Ocean Partnership Program by a consortium of 

government and academic scientists, led by NRL Stennis and including NOAA’s National 

Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). 

NAVOCEANO is the Navy's primary processing facility for a number of polar-orbiting and 

geostationary satellite collection systems, and is nationally recognized for satellite-derived seasurface temperature and satellite altimeter-derived sea surface topography and wave height 

observations. These products are shared with NOAA partners and are critically important to 

successfully running both the NAVOCEANO ocean models and FNMOC's NAVGEM and 

COAMPS atmospheric models.

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U.S. Marine Corps

Operational Organizations

CMC, DC/AVN, APX-9. The senior USMC METOC officer is dual-hatted as the METOC 

Services Officer and the METOC Occupational Field (OccField) Sponsor. The billet resides 

within the Aviation Department, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington D.C. and is 

physically located in the Pentagon, Aviation Expeditionary Enablers (APX) branch.

The METOC Services Officer is the principal advisor and subject matter expert to the Deputy 

Commandant, Aviation. The Aviation Department mission is to assist and advise the 

Commandant of the Marine Corps on all matters relating to Marine Aviation consistent with 

Marine Corps requirements. Specific duties include, but are not limited to: advise the 

Commandant of the Marine Corps on aviation safety, aviation policies, and Joint matters relating 

to aviation; provide principal aviation staff interface with the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO); 

ensure Marine Corps Aviation operates in compliance with Naval Aviation directives and 

programs; member of the Joint METOC Board Executive Steering Group; member of the 

Battlespace Awareness Functional Capabilities Board; member of the Joint Capabilities Board; 

USMC liaison to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and the Office of the 

Federal Coordinator for Meteorology.

The METOC Occupational Field Sponsor establishes policies and procedures for the effective 

management of officers and enlisted Marines serving in METOC billets across the MAGTF and 

supporting establishments.

Marine Liaison, Oceanographer of the Navy (N2/N6) The United States Marine Corps Liaison 

and Requirements Officer responsible for the funding of all programs associated with METOC 

support to the MAGTF resides within N2/N6E1, Oceanographer of the Navy, U.S. Naval 

Observatory, Washington D.C. N2/N6E1 reports directly to the Deputy CNO (DCNO) for 

Information Dominance to enable informed program wholeness and warfighting capability trades 

for information, cyber, and electronic warfare systems. Led by a two-star admiral, most of the 

N2/N6E1 staff, to include the admiral, have office spaces at the Pentagon. The N2/N6E1 USMC 

Requirements Officer represents the Deputy Commandant for Aviation in all aspects of METOC 

policy and procedures, requirements, acquisitions, and finance and must maintain familiarization 

with defense acquisition, technology, and logistics life cycle management framework. This 

officer also monitors Marine Corps METOC programs to ensure requirements are being met and 

advises the Program Sponsor of program status and milestone accomplishments.

Marine Liaison, Commander Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command The United 

States Marine Corps Liaison Officer, Commander Naval Meteorology and Oceanography 

Command (COMNAVMETOCCOM) resides within N3, and is the principal advisor and subject 

matter expert for all MAGTF METOC support capabilities. Duties include: assist 

COMNAVMETOCCOM in aligning the METOC support requirements for littoral and 

expeditionary warfare operations to include the proper employment and optimal utilization of 

MAGTF METOC capabilities in support of joint/combined operations; advise and assist 

COMNAVMETOCCOM in the planning, programming, budgeting, and procurement of MAGTF 

METOC equipment and in the preparation of concept of operations, specifications, and review of 

technical data for such equipment; assist in the development and review of METOC training 

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materials, publications, instructions, and directives in support of MAGTF littoral and 

expeditionary warfare operations; and serve as direct Liaison between Headquarters, Marine 

Corps (APX-9), Director of Intelligence (DIRINT), and COMNAVMETOCCOM for all matters 

requiring the concurrence of the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Space and Naval Warfare System Command (SPAWAR) The SPAWAR METOC Officer 

serves as the Aviation Program Manager (APM) for METOC equipment in the Battlespace 

Awareness and Information Operations Program Office (PMW120) under the Program Executive 

Office (PEO) Command, Control, Communicate, Computers and Intelligence (C4I). Duties 

include: ensures that validated Marine Corps METOC requirements are satisfied; provides 

technical assistance regarding Marine Corps operations to other METOC project officers within 

and external to the METOC Systems Office; maintain, organize, and disseminate METOC 

software; and plan and manage the design, development, procurement, and life cycle support of 

hardware and software systems that measure, transmit, distribute, and process METOC data.

U.S. Marine Corps Forces (MARFOR). The MARFOR METOC officer serves as a Special 

Staff for the Commanding General of the MARFORs and resides within the G-2. The primary 

mission of the MARFOR METOC Officer is to advise and assist the MARFOR Commanding 

General in the development of METOC policies and the execution and management of METOC 

resources by planning, coordinating, and validating the collection, evaluation, interpretation, and 

dissemination of METOC data. Other duties include: maintain liaison with other Service 

counterparts and represent the MARFOR Commanding General at Joint Service METOC 

meetings; maintain staff cognizance and management coordination for METOC-related matters; 

serves as the Marine Corps Senior METOC Officer (SMO) when the MARFOR Headquarters 

(HQ) deploys; conducts staff studies directly related to improving MAGTF Warfighting 

capabilities; prepare and present staff and command level briefings; provides staff support in 

planning for the employment and use of organic METOC assets, equipment, and capabilities; 

provide climatological, meteorological, tidal, astronomical, and other METOC data for planning; 

and develop and prepare the METOC annex (Annex H) for OPLANs or OPORDs and provides 

METOC input into the communications and information systems (CIS) annex (Annex K), the 

intelligence annex (Annex B), and other annexes as necessary regarding METOC issues. 

MARFOR billets include assignment to Marine Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC) Camp Smith, HI 

and Marine Forces Command (MARFORCOM) Norfolk, VA.

Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF). The MEF METOC Officer serves as a Special Staff for 

the Commanding General of the MEF and resides within the G-2. The primary mission of the 

MEF METOC Officer is to advise and assist the MEF Commanding General in the development 

of METOC policies and the execution and management of METOC resources by planning, 

coordinating, and validating the collection, evaluation, interpretation, and dissemination of 

METOC data. Other duties include: maintain liaison with other Service counterparts and 

represent the MEF Commanding General at Joint Service METOC meetings; maintain staff 

cognizance and management coordination for METOC-related matters; serves as the Marine 

Corps SMO when the MEF HQ deploys; conducts staff studies directly related to improving 

MAGTF Warfighting capabilities; prepare and present staff and command level briefings; 

provides staff support in planning for the employment and use of organic METOC assets, 

equipment, and capabilities; provide climatological, meteorological, tidal, astronomical, and 

other METOC data for planning; and develop and prepare the METOC annex (Annex H) for 

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OPLANs or OPORDs and provides METOC’s input into the CIS annex (Annex K), the 

intelligence annex (Annex B), and other annexes, as necessary regarding METOC issues.

Intelligence Battalion (Intel Bn). The Intel Bn provides the largest preponderance of METOC 

personnel outside of the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) and provides direct and general 

support METOC personnel in the form of METOC Support Teams (MSTs) to all other elements 

of the MAGTF. The Intel Bn’s primary mission is to provide direct METOC support to the MEF 

G-2. The secondary mission is to provide MSTs to the Command Element (CE), Ground Combat 

Element (GCE), Logistics Combat Element (LCE), and Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs); 

and are task-organized to support unique mission requirements.

Marine Division (MARDIV). The MARDIV METOC Chief serves as a Special Staff for the 

Commanding General of the MARDIV and resides within the G-2. The primary mission of the 

MARDIV METOC Chief is integrate into operational planning. Other duties include: prepare 

and present METOC briefs in support of mission planning and execution; forecast and identify 

environmental factors expected to impact operations; and provide expertise METOC input in the 

areas of Doctrine, Organization, Training, Material, Leadership, Personnel, and Facilities on 

behalf of the Commanding General of the MARDIV.

Marine Logistics Group (MLG) The MLG METOC Chief serves as a Special Staff for the 

Commanding General of the MLG and resides within the G-2. The primary mission of the MLG 

METOC Chief is to integrate into operational planning. Other duties include: prepare and present 

METOC briefs in support of mission planning and execution; forecast and identify 

environmental factors expected to impact operations; and provide expertise METOC input in the 

areas of Doctrine, Organization, Training, Material, Leadership, Personnel, and Facilities on 

behalf of the Commanding General of the MLG.

Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW). The MAW METOC Officer serves as a Special Staff for the 

Commanding General of the MAW and resides within the G-2. The primary mission of the 

MAW METOC Staff is to integrate into operational planning and advise the Commanding 

General on the capabilities and limitations of the METOC personnel and equipment with the 

MAW. Other duties include: prepare and present METOC briefs in support of mission planning 

and execution; forecast and identify environmental factors expected to impact operations; 

supervise the METOC collection strategy for the Air Wing; man and train TACC METOC 

personnel; assist subordinate commands in knowledge development for all METOC personnel in 

the Wing; and provide expertise METOC input in the areas of Doctrine, Organization, Training, 

Material, Leadership, Personnel, and Facilities on behalf of the Commanding General of the 

MAW.

Marine Air Control Group (MACG). The MACG METOC Chief serves as a Special Staff for 

the Commanding Officer of the MACG and resides within the S-3/S-5. The primary mission of 

the MACG METOC Chief is to integrate into operational planning and to advise the 

Commanding Officer on the capabilities and limitations of the METOC personnel and equipment 

within the MACG. Other duties include: assist in the execution and management of all METOC 

resources; coordinate effective methods of providing METOC support for the planning and 

execution of MAGTF operations; analyze and interpret centrally prepared products, 

alphanumeric data, satellite images, and Doppler radar coverage in order to provide forecast 

meteorological conditions, space weather, climatological and astronomical products, and impacts 

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assessments for all requested operations within the scope of the MACG and its subordinate 

commands.

Marine Air Control Squadron (MACS)

MACS Weapons and Tactics Training Program (WTTP) The MACS METOC WTTP Chief is 

the subject matter expert to the Commanding Officer of the MACS and resides within the WTTP 

shop. The primary mission of the MACS METOC WTTP Chief is to supervise the training 

progression of MACS METOC personnel in accordance with MCO 3500.14C Aviation Training 

and Readiness Program Manual and NAVMC 3500.38A METOC Training and Readiness 

manual by continuously monitoring and supervising training input into Marine Sierra Hotel 

Aviation Readiness Program (MSHARP) and all source documentation to accurately portray 

combat readiness of the METOC sections within the MACS MATCDachments (Dets).

MACS Marine Air Traffic Control Detachments (MATCD) The MACS MATCD are where the 

preponderance of METOC personnel resides within the MAW. They also own and maintain the 

largest METOC support asset within the MAGTF; the Meteorological Mobile Facility 

(Replacement) Next Generation [METMF(R) NEXGEN]. The METMF(R) NEXGEN is 

deployed to support sustained operations ashore and provides METOC personnel with a forward 

deployed data collection asset that is comparable to garrison systems. MACS MATCD METOC 

personnel provide general support to the Aviation Combat Element (ACE), but can be taskorganized by way of METOC Support Teams (MSTs) to support the other elements of the 

MAGTF when requested through the chain of command. The duties of the MACS MATCD 

METOC personnel include: acquire, monitor, and analyze METOC data to produce tailored, 

value added information for supported units; operate all METOC equipment, including satellite 

receivers, radar, and other available environmental sensors and display equipment used as the 

basis for collecting and forecasting environmental conditions; prepare and disseminate forecasts 

focused on specific missions, locations, and METOC parameters critical to current operations 

and future planning; forecast upper-level winds; provide aviation flight weather briefings in 

support of aviation missions; and provide WWAs in support of sustained operations ashore to 

ensure force protection.

Operational Supporting Establishments

Regional METOC Center (RMC). The Marine Corps’ RMCs provide 24 hour direct (in person) 

and indirect (web, e-mail, and phone) regionalized METOC information, products, and services 

in support of Marine Corps operations and other military operations as may be directed from a 

garrison environment. The RMCs may be used as a reach-back source, but are not task-organized 

to provide operational METOC support to forward deployed personnel or to act as METOC 

Production Centers for other-than-garrison operations. RMCs have the secondary mission to 

coordinate and supervise the training of all METOC forecasters in the MCICOM chain of 

command. As part of the regionalization concept of the RMCs, they are responsible for 24/7 

METOC support for the station they are aboard and after field closure for all other stations 

within their area of responsibility (AOR). Those duties include: collect, evaluate, interpret, and 

disseminate METOC observations and forecasts; prepare and disseminate WWAs; prepare and 

brief aviation flight weather briefs; forecast upper-level winds; prepare and disseminate yearly 

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astronomical data; provide climatological data upon request; and complete all other METOC 

request for information (RFI) as requested.

Other CONUS Marine Corps Bases and Air Stations. Station METOC support responsibilities 

include: METOC support to base training, tenant units, and transient aircrews; and liaison with 

the RMC to provide a continuous meteorological watch (METWATCH). The RMCs have final 

issuing authority for all terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAF) and weather WWAs for the bases 

and air stations within their respective area of responsibility. Other duties include collect, 

evaluate, interpret, and disseminate METOC observations; prepare and brief aviation flight 

weather briefs; forecast upper-level winds; prepare and disseminate yearly astronomical data; 

provide climatological data upon request; and complete all other METOC RFIs as requested. 

Although collaboration between the Station METOC subject matter expert and RMC personnel 

occurs, the RMCs have final issuing authority for all terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAF) and 

WWAs for the stations and bases within their respective region. 

Marine Corps Aviation Support. The Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) conducts the complete 

range of air operations in support of the MEF, to include anti-air warfare, offensive air support, 

assault support, aerial reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and control of aircraft and missiles. 

The MAW serves as the principal headquarters for the ACE. Most of the MAGTF’s METOC 

support assets reside within the MAW, specifically at the MACG and its subordinate Marine Air 

Traffic Control Detachments. These assets are organized, structured, and capable of supporting a 

variety of MAGTF and ACE-specific operations as defined by the size, scope, and mission 

requirements. Dedicated METOC support is available for all MAGTF elements from within the 

MAW/ACE.

Marine Corps Products and Services

METOC Support Capabilities—Meteorological Mobile 

Facility (Replacement) Next Generation 

[METMF(R)NEXGEN]. The highest level of METOC 

capability within the MAGTF is the METMF(R) 

NEXGEN. The METMF(R) NEXGEN provides the 

MAGTF with a lightweight, highly mobile, fully integrated 

FORCENet compliant meteorological system capable of 

sustaining METOC operations in direct or general support 

of all elements of the MAGTF. It provides a METOC 

capability similar to that found in garrison METOC 

facilities. METMF(R) NEXGEN provisions for all 

functions of environmental sensing and data ingest, for the 

efficient collation and integration of collected data, and for 

user-friendly graphic user interfaces (GUIs) and software 

tools necessary for accurate interpretation and value-added 

production. The METMF(R) NEXGEN enables the Marine 

METOC personnel to effectively turn relevant METOC 

data into actionable environmental information which in 

turn can facilitate timely operational decision-making. The 

Figure 10: Meteorological Mobile Facility 

(Replacement) Next Generation 

[METMF(R)NEXGEN] deployed to 

Afghanistan

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smallest level of METOC capability is the Naval 

Integrated Tactical Environmental System - Variant IV (NITES IV). The NITES IV is designed 

as a scalable, flexible, and mobile system for a first in and last out capability. The primary 

differences between the METMF(R) NEXGEN and NITES IV are size, logistics, scalability, 

mobility, and that the METMF(R) NEXGEN has organic sensing capabilities while the NITES 

IV sensing capabilities are limited. Thus, the NITES IV relies heavily on reach-back 

communications and MFC databases for data and products. The NITES IV provides METOC 

personnel access to METOC data and products which are then analyzed and tailored for a 

specific mission.

Naval Integrated Tactical Environmental System (NITES IV). NITES IV is a modular system, 

used to provide limited METOC support in a stand-alone mode with increasing capabilities 

realized with the addition of SIPRNET/NIPRNET connectivity. The NITES-IV suite consists of 

three laptops. Each laptop is designed to perform a different function, but all three are loaded 

with the same software and can perform the tasks of the others. Mission requirements, network 

availability, and embarkation space dictate how best to employ NITES IV.

Vaisala TacMet Meteorological Observation 

System. Organic to the METMF(R) NEXGEN 

and NITES IV, the TacMet is a field 

deployable, compact weather station for 

various field operations. Offering broad 

sensor capability, the local MAWS201M 

network system is used to provide weather 

data to support air operations on a temporary 

or semi-permanent basis. The local system 

enhanced configuration offers full aviation 

support, interfacing with intelligent sensors 

such as ceilometer, present weather sensor, 

and electric field mill. These sensors are 

capable of being deployed up to 150 feet away 

from the systems. A standalone version of this 

sensor is also available to the METMF(R) NEXGEN in the form of two (2) Remote Sensor Subsystems (RSS). The RSS includes meteorological sensors from pre-positioned, remote locations.

This portable, scalable system comprises a sensor set with wind speed and direction, barometric 

pressure, air temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation sensors.

U.S. Coast Guard

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is a military, multi-mission maritime service and one of our 

Nation’s five armed forces. The USCG protects the public, the environment, and the economic 

interests in the Nation’s ports and waterways, along the coast, on international waters, and in 

other maritime regions, as required to support national security. The USCG has a long history of 

environmental observations and science support. Support for meteorological operations and 

supporting research is detailed in other sections of this plan.

Figure 11: METMF(R) NEXGEN provides critical 

enabling capabilities to collect, process, disseminate and 

integrate essential elements of information regarding the 

time-sensitive characterization of the physical 

environment. Official U.S.M.C. photograph.

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SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

Interagency Supporting Research Programs and Projects

National Unified Operational Prediction Capability Research Partnering Initiative

This initiative is a Navy, Air Force, and NOAA/NWS tri-agency management organization 

focused on coordinating development and transition to operations of numerical weather 

technology advances to improve joint mission performance. The National Unified Operational 

Prediction Capability (NUOPC) vision is a national numerical weather prediction (NWP) system 

with interoperable components built on common standards and a common framework (the Earth 

System Modeling Framework), with managed operational ensemble diversity and a national 

global NWP research agenda to accelerate science and technology infusion. NUOPC focuses on 

the next-generation systems for global NWP with full implementation by 2020, allowing for 

possible future expansion into other areas of numerical environmental prediction. NUOPC 

established its Initial Operational Capability in January 2011, which provides a National multimodel global ensemble exchanged between NOAA, the Navy and the Air Force on a one degree 

grid for 72 variables out to 16 days. Upgrades to ensemble systems will continue and the 

resolution of the exchanged ensemble members is scheduled to be doubled by the end of 2013 to 

one half degree, and doubled again to one quarter degree in the next five years as computing and 

communications capabilities grow to support this requirement. The partners continue to use and 

develop ensemble-based products such as the new Wave Watch 3 Ensemble, based on this multimodel system that brings substantial skill improvements over any single model solution.

The NUOPC effort partners with the Earth System Predictions Capability (ESPC) to improve 

and extend forecast skill through coupled systems. This effort is research focused to stimulate 

inter-agency interactions and collaborations in developing systems to improve forecasts at time 

scales from near-term weather to inter-seasonal/inter-annual. It also is working to couple 

domains such as atmosphere, ocean, ice, land and eventually into ecosystems. Improvements in 

predictions in these broader domains and timescales will result in better severe weather warnings 

(hurricanes, tornadoes, snowstorms), better cost avoidance for weather sensitive industries 

(agriculture, transportation, utilities, defense), and better informed decision making for industry, 

defense, and the general public. Finally, NUOPC efforts will work to operationalize findings 

from ESPC for the next generation environmental prediction system. More information is 

available at the NUOPC website at: www.weather.gov/nuopc/ and the ESPC website at:

www.espc.oar.noaa.gov/.

U.S. Air Force Supporting Research Programs and Projects

Technology Transition Initiatives. The overarching objective of the USAF meteorological and 

space environmental technology transition program is to give capability designers, operational 

weather personnel, and weather information users the technology and tools to gain and maintain 

the advantage over a potential adversary. USAF capability needs in the atmospheric and space 

environment sciences are articulated in the Initial Capabilities Document for the METOC 

Environment, Capability Review assessments, USAF Strategic Plans, the AF Weather 

Operations Functional Concept and Enabling Concepts (Characterize the Environment, Exploit 

Environmental Information, and Net-Centric Operations), and supporting concept and 

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implementation plans. The USAF also uses cooperative development and testing agreements 

with other governmental agencies and laboratories, as well as with for-profit companies. Both 

the Air Force Institute of Technology and the Naval Postgraduate School offer USAF and Navy 

graduate students in the atmospheric and space environmental sciences opportunities to research 

topics of immediate operational interest to U.S. Military Services.

AFW-WEBS is a centralized Web service capability providing access to environmental 

information appropriate to all levels of operation and command. The program is designed to 

leverage net-centric capabilities and geospatial display services via AFW-WEBS to provide the 

operational warfighting community a single point of access to the total AF authoritative 

environmental content from sources across the AF weather enterprise. All appropriate 

meteorological information will be serviced in geospatially enabled formats for direct integration 

into warfighter systems and decision cycles. Consistent environmental characterizations of key 

mission-impacting weather parameters improved by the FITL process will be used as a common 

source for both visualized web content and for direct M2M services accessed by warfighter 

systems. AF weather forces will employ AFW-WEBS capabilities to improve the quality, 

accuracy, and effectiveness of all-weather support processes. Finally, C2, ISR, and MP systems 

will employ AFW-WEBS products and services to help more decision makers maintain better 

BA and use the knowledge gained from this process to plan and execute more effective missions.

Cloud Forecasting. In applied meteorological R&D, the AF is improving cloud forecasting 

techniques by increasing the resolution, using a new cloud interpretation/typing scheme, 

integrating available satellite (to include non-traditional METSAT) into the cloud analysis, 

incorporating cloud optical properties, and blending numerical weather prediction with forecast 

cloud advection techniques. The AF has transitioned key advances in tactical decision aids into 

operations, permitting improved forecasting of electro-optical system performance and 

generation of cloud and target scene visualizations for training, system development, and mission 

rehearsal.

Weather Forecast Modeling for Air Force and Army Operations. The Air Force is transitioning 

to a global forecasting capability with the implementation of their Global Air-Land Weather 

Exploitation Model (GALWEM). Additionally, the USAF will continue participation in research 

and development activities that bring advanced forecast capabilities in support of USAF and US 

Army operations in collaboration with National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), 

NOAA’s NCEP, NOAA’s Earth Systems Research Laboratory (ESRL), the University of 

Oklahoma’s Center for the Analysis and Prediction of Storms, and others. The GALWEM is a 

fully coupled model which brings dust and aerosol modeling capabilities. The Land Information 

System analyzes the current state of the land surface to provide information to DoD and civilian 

agencies, and, through coupling with GALWEM, will improve forecasting performance near the 

surface and in the low levels of the atmosphere. This enables USAF weather forces to provide 

better battlespace characterization for missions such as (but not limited to) low-level aircraft 

operations, the dispersion of aerosol contaminants, and the employment of precision-guided 

munitions. It also allows for assessment of trafficability for ground forces.

In early 2012, the USAF released the Air Force Weather Ensemble Prediction Suite (AFWEPS) 

into operations. AFWEPS output, at both the mesoscale and global scale, provides better 

meteorological intelligence for the warfighter by objectively quantifying the forecast certainty of 

mission-impacting meteorological parameters to optimize operational risk management for all 

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echelons of decision making. It provides probabilistic algorithms for high-impact variables and 

quantifies biases, allowing concise, focused products.

Research Partnering Initiatives. The USAF is partnering with the NWS and the Navy in the 

National Earth System Prediction Capability (N'ESPC). This partnership exists to enable a triagency joint global atmospheric ensemble forecast system and is an integration of ongoing 

efforts coordinated by a tri-agency management organization. The N'ESPC vision is a National 

NWP system with interoperable components built on common standards and framework (Earth 

System Modeling Framework) with managed operational ensemble diversity and a national 

global NWP research agenda to accelerate science and technology infusion.

Tactical Decision Aids. The USAF collaborates in the development of several tactical decision 

aids, including the Target Acquisition Weapons Software (TAWS), the Infrared Target Scene 

Simulator (IRTSS), and the Tri-Service Integrated Weather Effects Decision Aid (T-IWEDA). 

TAWS provides a joint mission-planning tool for combining platform, weapon, target, 

background, and weather factors to depict three-dimensional target acquisition and lock-on range 

and recognition range versus time. 

• TAWS can be used to predict environmental impacts on night vision goggles and low lightlevel systems used by air, naval, and ground forces to execute nighttime operations. 

• IRTSS uses detailed terrain information and multi-spectral imagery with TAWS weather 

inputs to generate forecast target scene images for mission rehearsal. 

• T-IWEDA uses environmental data with force, mission, and/or individual weapons rules of 

engagement or performance parameters to automatically generate mission-impact forecasts 

for large-scale planning efforts such as air tasking order preparation. It aids in selecting 

platforms, systems, or sensors, based on system rules with critical values and a forecast of 

weather conditions. Results are displayed on a red/yellow/green weather effects matrix and 

overlaid on a background map.

TAWS, IRTSS, and T-IWEDA integrate environmental impacts into the mission execution 

forecasts for operations, command and control, and for mission planning systems throughout the 

military planning and execution cycle. AFRL, the Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems 

Command, NRL, and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) are developing modular 

programs as part of the T-IWEDA initiative. The Tactical Decision Aids program continues 

adding weapons systems and targets to the inputs to these decision aids at the request of users 

from the Services.

U.S. Army Supporting Research Programs and Projects

Army Materiel Command (AMC) 

AMC is responsible for the RDT&E of equipment to satisfy the USA’s requirements for 

meteorological support. AMC provides meteorological and climatological support to RDT&E 

projects, involving electro-optical sensors and atmospheric and obscurant effects on systems and 

their performance. AMC has several major subordinate commands and elements carrying out 

weather R&D responsibilities, including the Research Development and Engineering Command, 

which has responsibility for the USA’s Research Development and Engineering Centers and 

ARL.

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Battlefield Environment Division, ARL Computational and Information Sciences Directorate. 

The Battlefield Environment Division of the Computational and Information Sciences 

Directorate in ARL conducts basic and applied research in atmospheric science and technology 

to provide actionable environmental intelligence crucial to the success of current and future 

operations. The research program focuses on: (1) measurements, modeling, and theoretical 

investigations of aerosols, acoustics, electro-optics, and adaptive optics to support advances in 

detection and identification within the battlefield environment; (2) research to understand, 

measure, model, and predict, the dynamics of the boundary layer atmosphere and its effects on 

Army systems and operations; and (3) research necessary to meet the Army’s requirements for 

detailed atmospheric analyses and very-short-range predictions (Nowcasts) over missionexecution battlespace domains in complex terrain areas and within urban environments. This 

mission effort will be carried out through the: (1) development of high-resolution, physics-based 

and semi-empirical models for urban and complex-terrain meteorology; (2) development of 

Decision Support Tools (DSTs) that describe the impacts expected, and the resulting 

performance degradation due to adverse environmental conditions, to include weather and 

terrain, for both Friendly and Threat systems; and (3) development of improved propagation and 

scattering models to be employed in novel techniques that can enhance the detection, 

identification, and localization of biological aerosols and acoustic and optical sources, and to 

enable evaluations that will improve the performance of acoustic and electro-optic sensors. ARL 

also provides a liaison to the Joint Polar Satellite System 

Program Office located at the NASA Goddard Space Flight 

Center to coordinate on Army satellite data, information 

requirements, and applications development. The following three 

research programs are planned within ARL-BED for FY16.

Atmospheric Sensing. The objectives of this research program 

include: (1) experimental and theoretical research enabling highresolution characterization of atmospheric and other 

environmental conditions that may affect the performance of 

acoustic and electro-optic systems, and the conception of 

methods to mitigate these effects; (2) development of aerosol, 

acoustic, and electro-optic DSTs that utilize observed or modeled 

atmospheric parameters to improve Warfighter performance 

within the battlefield environment; (3) development of theoretical 

and experimental technologies for the characterization of atmospheric constituents focused on 

the detection of threat agent aerosols; and (4) development and advancement of environmental 

remote sensing science and technologies to increase knowledge of the battlefield environment 

and to support Army operations. ARL also provides a liaison to the NOAA Joint Polar Satellite 

System Program Office located in Lanham, MD to coordinate on Army satellite data, 

information requirements, and applications development.

Atmospheric Modeling. The objectives of this program are to: (1) develop high-resolution, 

physics-based prognostic models and semi-empirical diagnostic models for ultra-fine-scale 

meteorological forecasts in urban and complex terrain; (2) develop, modify, or adapt data 

assimilation tools that can ingest on-scene, traditional, and non-traditional weather observations, 

and fuse this information with forecasts to provide analyses and mission-execution Nowcast 

products for operations and short-term mission planning; (3) design and develop the means to 

Figure 12: High-resolution 

meteorological forecasts support a 

host of battlefield operations such 

as first round, fire-for-effect 

artillery shots. (U.S. Army photo)

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process these models and transfer meteorological data over a distributed network; (4) develop 

capabilities to use deterministic and ensemble model probabilistic forecast output in weather 

DSTs, and develop new aids to exploit such new databases; and (5) support the Artillery 

Meteorology community with expertise in meteorological modeling and atmospheric effects on 

artillery fires and target area meteorology.

Atmospheric Dynamics. The objectives of this effort are to: (1) develop applications to monitor 

and assess airborne hazards in complex terrain; (2) develop theoretical foundations and perform 

experiments to characterize the fine-scale effects of local terrain on winds, turbulence, and 

vertical fluxes; (3) develop DSTs and associated databases that describe the impacts expected, 

and the resulting performance degradation due to adverse weather conditions for both Friendly 

and Threat systems; (4) assess the accuracy and value-added to the Warfighter of Nowcasts and 

DSTs; and (5) develop propagation models and improved theory for characterizing the 

atmosphere and the effects of turbulence on emerging sensing applications in previously underexploited spectral regions (including Terahertz) for communications and imaging, short-wave 

infrared active and passive imaging, and near-IR for directed energy systems. As part of the 

Atmospheric Dynamics research efforts, and in support of the modeling and sensing areas, ARL 

will be implementing a Meteorological Sensor Array (MSA) within and near White Sands 

Missile Range, NM (WSMR) in late FY15 and extending to maturation in FY16. The MSA will 

consist of two, thirty-six meteorological tower sensor arrays; with other associated 

instrumentation such as LiDARs, SODARs, etc., situated in complex mountain/desert terrain.

This test bed will provide a rich source of atmospheric characterization data for ARL and other 

research organizations.

ARL Army Research Office. The Army Research Office, Research Triangle Park, North 

Carolina, manages the Army's extramural basic research program in earth sciences. ARO seeks 

to advance understanding of the terrestrial environment by embracing long-term, high risk, highpayoff opportunities for the US Army with special emphasis on Earth Materials and Processes 

and Environmental Chemistry. Research seeks to explore the properties of Earth surface 

materials and environments to discover how they respond to external forces and their interactions 

with the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere, especially in the context of chemical species 

affecting human health and the environment. The work is focused on processes occurring at 

spatial and temporal scales relevant to Army operations and land management. Fundamental 

research lays the foundation to support a range of Army needs, including the remote 

characterization of land surfaces, the trafficability of ground vehicles, and environmental needs 

such as waste management and remediation.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers R&D

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center 

(ERDC) provides integrated research, development, and engineering services to solve the 

challenging problems in military engineering, geospatial sciences, water resources, and 

environmental sciences for the Army and Department of Defense (DoD). The ERDC supports 

Army weapon systems RDT&E with all-season solutions for mitigating adverse environmental 

effects on Army operations. Basic and applied research is conducted on energy and mass transfer 

processes at and near the terrain surface. ERDC develops databases and models for predicting 

the state of the terrain including surface temperature, soil moisture, tactical decision aids, and 

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geospatial tools supporting mobility analysis and sensor performance. Research will transition 

into Tactical Decision Aids (TDAs) within geospatial analysis tools to interpret and assist the 

Warfighter’s understanding of weather impacts on terrain applicable to Mission Command and 

Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance planning. These products transition to research 

and engineering programs including advanced technology demonstrations and specific programs 

of record.

FY16 planned efforts include research supporting the Army Terrestrial Modeling and 

Intelligence System (ARTEMIS) Army Science and Technology Objective (STO). This Army 

STO is being executed in partnership with the Army Research Laboratory’s Battlefield 

Environment Division. FY16 planned efforts include: (1) the development of digital product 

layers that reflect land-atmosphere impacts on mobility, austere entry, and sensor performance 

and research risk-based analysis of terrestrial processes on military operations; (2) conducting 

research of time-sensitive activity within the soil as shaped by dynamic soil descriptors to 

support enhanced predictive analysis of soil-weather-terrain governed maneuver and sensor 

constraints; and (3) the investigation of remote and automated analysis methods for identifying 

and locating areas suitable for aircraft landing or drop zones

Army Test and Evaluation Command 

ATEC is responsible for providing operational meteorological support to Army RDT&E. Under 

responsibilities established in AR 115-10/AFJI 15-157, ATEC meteorological units provide 

meteorological data collection and analysis, consultation, and weather forecast and warning 

services to support Army and other DOD RDT&E activities at seven ATEC ranges.

Enhancements to ATEC Four-Dimensional Weather System. The ATEC Meteorology Program 

is continuing to collaborate with the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) on 

enhancements to the ATEC Four-Dimensional Weather (4DWX) system, which is the backbone 

of the meteorological support infrastructure at the Army test ranges. ATEC 4DWX modeling 

capabilities include Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model based real-time fourdimensional data assimilation at the test ranges. It also provides Global Meteorology on 

Demand, a globally relocatable mesoscale modeling system to support Army RDT&E (including 

ATEC distributed and virtual testing) at locations other than the Army ranges. Output from the 

4DWX mesoscale model forecasts and analyses is used as meteorological input to atmospheric 

dispersion, noise propagation, ballistic trajectory, and other range applications models to 

simulate many tests and their associated impacts. The 4DWX system contributes to improved 

test planning and conduct, selection of more representative locations for test sensors, inclusion of 

realistic atmospheric effects in virtual testing, and forensic analyses of meteorological effects on 

test results.

Major 4DWX system components include a central data archival/retrieval system for all range 

and external meteorological and model data, the WRF high-resolution mesoscale meteorological 

model, an innovative real-time data assimilation system, and a variety of user-configurable 

displays.

In 2007, DPG implemented a 30-member ensemble 4DWX forecasting capability. Recently, the 

High Performance Computing Modernization Office (HPCMO) provided ATEC an allocation of 

hours in a high-priority queue at the Navy DoD Supercomputing Research Center at Stennis 

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Space Center, for development of an extension of the ensemble 4DWX to all the ATEC test 

ranges.

System enhancements during FY15 will include: Continued WRF and data assimilation 

development focused on forecasting improvements at each range, in addition to advances which 

apply generally to all WRF applications; improved lightning potential prediction; development 

of range climatologies; continued development of Very Large Eddy Simulation capabilities; 

continued development of an on-line automated real-time quality control for observations; and 

continued enhancements to the AutoNowcaster implementations at Redstone Test Center and at 

White Sands Missile Range. In addition, preparations are underway to install a weather 

surveillance radar at the Cold Regions Test Center, Fort Greely, Alaska. ATEC plans to evaluate 

an upgraded sound propagation model under development at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, 

Dahlgren, Virginia, for potential use at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

U.S. Navy Supporting Research Programs and Projects

Earth System Prediction Capabilities. Navy’s Earth System Prediction Capability (ESPC) 

project was established in FY 2013 to address Fleet and Combatant Commander (COCOM) 

METOC prediction requirements and capability gaps. Navy ESPC is part of a larger National 

operational, coupled numerical model development and model ensemble collaboration across 

DoD and other Federal Agencies. Initial Operational Capability (IOC), defined as a fully coupled 

global 16-day prediction system and prototype/demonstration capability to predict inter-seasonal 

variability (< 90 days), is scheduled for FY 2018. Full operational capability, consisting of a 32-

day coupled global ensemble, coupled regional Arctic and inter-seasonal to inter-annual 

variability prediction capability, is scheduled for FY 2022.

The ESPC primary deliverable is a multi-model global ensemble forecast system, coupling the 

domains of land, sea, atmosphere, ice, and space. Improvements in predictive capability are 

expected to result in better severe weather warnings (hurricanes, tornadoes, snowstorms), better 

cost avoidance for weather sensitive industries (agriculture, transportation, utilities, defense), and 

better informed decision making for industry, defense, and the general public. Additional 

information is available at the ESPC website at: www.espc.oar.noaa.gov/

Electromagnetic Maneuver Warfare (EMW) Under the mission pillar of Assured Command 

and Control, in direct support to EMW, the Navy is engaged in improving Electro-Magnetic 

(EM)/Electro-Optic (EO)/Electronic Warfare (EW) Spectrum Management, especially in AntiAccess/Area-Denial (A2/AD) environments by improving exploitation opportunities across 

current and emerging fleet sensor systems. The NOe under COMNAVOCEANCOM direction, 

has partnered with Program Manager Ships (PMS 405) in coordinating atmospheric and 

oceanographic efforts for Solid State Laser (SSL) Technology Maturation (TM) and Quick 

Reaction Capability (QRC). An Integrated Product Team (IPT) is charged with providing 24/7 

atmospheric characterization and performance prediction for SSL operations at any maritime 

location of Navy interest. Current focus is on modeling and measurements, needed in developing 

vertical temperature/moisture and turbulence profiles. CNMOC is the Navy authoritative source 

for what atmospheric models to tap into and FNMOC is the Navy’s lead atmospheric modeling 

center. Other participants include ONR 34, NRL, and COMNAVSPAWARSYSCOM. Tech 

Solutions is a SPAWAR-led R&D effort for a weather sensing system onboard naval surface 

ships called Automated Shipboard Weather Observation System (ASO). The design of a variety 

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of laser systems, for example, the Modular Universal Laser Equipment (MULE), has used the 

R&D turbulence models to optimize systems for operation in the atmospheric environment 

expected in different operational theaters.

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SPACE WEATHER SERVICES

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

NOAA/National Weather Service

Space Weather Prediction Center

The National Centers for Environmental Prediction’s (NCEP) Space Weather Prediction Center 

(SWPC), within the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National 

Weather Service (NWS), is the Nation’s official 

source of space weather alerts, watches and warnings 

for conditions in the space environment that impact 

systems and technologies that are vulnerable to space 

weather. SWPC provides real-time monitoring and 

forecasting of space weather events, conducts research 

in solar-terrestrial physics, and develops techniques 

for forecasting space weather storms. These services 

are provided to promote public safety and mitigate 

economic loss that could result from disruption of 

critical systems such as satellite operations, 

communications and navigation systems, and electric 

power distribution grids. SWPC operates the national 

civilian Space Weather Forecast Office, coordinating 

with Air Force’s 557th Weather Wing personnel at 

Offutt Air Force base in the production of joint 

products, ensuring a consistent message on the space 

weather forecast across both civilian and Department 

of Defense (DOD) customer bases. The SWPC 

provides services to customers on a 24 hour-per-day, 

seven day-per-week basis. SWPC products and 

services include observations and forecasts of solar, 

interplanetary, geospace, ionosphere and 

thermosphere conditions that impact technologies on 

Earth and in space. The SWPC also develops and 

For purposes of this Federal Plan, Space Weather Services are those specialized meteorological 

services and facilities established to meet the needs of users for information on space weather 

conditions and space weather storms that can affect terrestrial systems, space systems, Earth’s 

atmosphere, and the space environment. Space weather services include monitoring and alerting of 

space weather storms and their effects on technological infrastructure and human safety. Early 

warning of an approaching space weather storm, so that timely protective response is possible, is an 

important part of space weather services.

Figure 1: Space Weather Prediction Center 

illustration.

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

evaluates new models and products and transitions them into operations. The SWPC takes a 

leading role in advocating and specifying new space-environment sensors for operational use.

The SWPC provides services to a broad user community of government agencies including 

Department of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of 

Homeland Security, Department of Energy, and Department of Transportation. The SWPC 

provides support to industries, public institutions, and private individuals including the electric 

power industry, the airline industry, the satellite industry, oil exploration, agriculture, and many 

users of high frequency communication and satellite navigation. The SWPC also serves as the 

primary international World Warning Agency for the International Space Environment Service. 

It exchanges international data (solar wind, X-ray, sunspot, corona, magnetic, and ionospheric 

measurements) in real-time and issues a consensus set of daily forecasts for international use.

U.S. Air Force

The mission of AF weather organizations is to enable DoD decision-makers to anticipate and 

exploit the weather for air, ground, space, cyberspace, and intelligence operations. As this 

applies to the ‘Space Weather Services’ category, AF weather personnel provide space 

environmental information, products, and services required to support Department of Defense 

(DoD) operations as required, providing actionable environmental impacts information directly 

to decision makers.

The USAF’s Space Weather Flight is the Department of Defense’s reachback center for space 

environmental services operations. These personnel apply a detailed understanding of the space 

environment to translate raw data into useful military intelligence information, which can be 

integrated into the Common Operating Picture. 

Forecasters in the Space Weather Flight, 2nd Weather Squadron (2 WS), 2nd Weather Group (2 

WXG), monitor the sun’s emissions and provide mission-tailored analyses, forecasts, and 

warnings. Their products are used for mission planning and environmental situational awareness 

by national agencies, DoD operators, warfighters, and decision makers. Solar emission of highlyenergetic particles, X-rays, and radio bursts can produce the following effects on DoD 

operations:

• Electrical anomalies and degrading of components to satellites and other equipment in orbit 

above the protective levels of the atmosphere.

• Impacts on electromagnetic signals influencing High Frequency (HF) communication, Ultra 

High Frequency (UHF) communication, and Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite 

navigation signals.

• Increased drag on satellites in low-earth orbit.

• Increased interference or false returns to sunward or poleward looking radars.

• Potential health impact of radiation exposure to high-altitude aviators and those flying over 

polar regions.

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Space Weather Services

Figure 2: 2nd Weather Squadron's Space Weather Flight monitors solar emissions 24/7 and provides missiontailored analysis, forecasts and warnings.

The 2 WS also provides immediate backup support for the SWPC. The backup includes the use 

of on-site Air Force personnel at the 2 WS. The 2 WS space weather technicians located at Offutt 

Air Force Base (AFB), Nebraska, and at solar observatories around the globe are always focused 

on the sun. They provide timely, relevant, and accurate space weather information to DoD 

personnel, issuing approximately 35,000 forecaster-in-the-loop and automated textual and 

graphical products warning of significant solar activity daily. 

Space environmental information is obtained through a combination of ground- and space-based 

systems. For the near-earth environment, e.g. ionosphere, ground-based and space-based systems 

complement each other to provide highly accurate point source verification and specification as 

well as enable global coverage and theater-wide situational awareness. For solar data, groundbased systems provide reliable observations of the sun in optical and radio frequencies, and 

space-based observations provide information (or data) unobtainable from the ground. Spacebased systems provide in situ measurements of the space environment; i.e., solar wind and 

magnetosphere. The USAF has outlined plans to modernize ground-based space environment 

sensing and is collaborating with U.S. and Allied government and civilian agencies to achieve a 

robust space-sensing capability.

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

The 2 WS operates the Solar Electro-optical Observing Network (SEON), a network of five 

ground-based observing sites located around the globe providing 24-hour coverage of solar 

phenomena at optical and/or radio wavelengths. The network sites are:

• Detachment 1, Learmonth, Australia

• Detachment 2, Sagamore Hill, Massachusetts

• Detachment 4, Holloman AFB, New Mexico

• Detachment 5, Kaena Point, Hawaii

• San Vito, Italy (contract site)

The SEON network sites utilize the Radio Solar Telescope Network (RSTN) and/or the Solar 

Observing Optical Network (SOON). The RSTN is composed of instruments that observe radio 

emissions from the sun and is used to monitor for solar radio bursts at eight specific frequencies 

as well as a spectral band. The SOON is used to monitor solar flare activity, which are 

sometimes the precursor to coronal mass ejections that may interact with the earth’s magnetic 

field to create geomagnetic storms. The SOON images the sun in the hydrogen-alpha 

wavelength, which reveals the complex solar activity in the lower atmosphere or chromosphere, 

as well as imaging the sun in the continuum (white light), which shows sunspots on the sun’s 

surface, or photosphere. The SOON also enables the production of magnetic maps of the sun 

using a Zeeman splitting technique. When solar emissions are observed over threshold levels, 

solar analysts transmit activity messages that are used to prepare mission-tailored analyses, 

forecasts, and warnings used for mission planning, mission execution, and environmental 

situational awareness.

The USAF employs a worldwide network of ground-based ionosondes and other sensors to 

provide environmental data in 

the ionosphere. It manages 

the NEXt-generation 

IONosonde (NEXION) 

fielding that started in 

summer of 2009, which will 

culminate in 26 NEXION 

sites worldwide. The USAF is 

in the process of fielding a 

network of 10 Ionospheric 

Scintillation and Total 

Electron Content (TEC) 

Observatories (ISTO), 

expected to be operational in 

2016. These sites will 

characterize attenuation of 

SATCOM and GPS radio 

signals in the global 

equatorial regions. NASA’s 

Jet Propulsion Laboratory operates a complementary global network of more than 125 sensors, 

deriving ionospheric line-of-sight total electron content from GPS signals, and provides these 

data to the USAF. Additional data are provided by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which 

Figure 3: Solar optical and radio telescopes at Learmonth, Australia. 

Source: U.S. Air Force.

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Space Weather Services

operates a network of ground-based magnetometers, primarily in North America, that provide the 

USAF with critical measurements of the earth’s geomagnetic field and its variances.

From space, the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Special Sensor Precipitating 

Electron and Ion Spectrometer measures low-energy precipitating electrons that cause the aurora. 

The DMSP Special Sensors-Ions, Electrons, and Scintillation sensor provides top-side, in-situ 

measurements of the ionospheric environment, complementing ground-based sensors. These data 

are utilized to assess the impact of ionospheric conditions on ballistic-missile early warning radar 

systems and long-range communications. Additionally, the data are used to monitor global 

auroral activity and to predict the effects of the space environment on satellite operations. The 

Solar X-Ray Imager aboard NOAA’s GOES-15 satellite monitors solar X-ray emissions and 

provides near real-time display at 557 WW and the SWPC in Boulder, Colorado. The USAF also 

leverages space-based data from NASA and other agencies.

AF weather organizations will continue to lead the Department of Defense in space weather 

operations in FY 2016 and beyond. In FY 2016, the USAF will continue to upgrade its solar 

equipment and processes, along with providing new or upgraded facilities for some solar 

locations.

U.S. Geological Survey 

The Geomagnetism Program (http://geomag.usgs.gov) of the USGS Geologic Hazards Science 

Center provides real-time, ground-based measurements of the Earth’s magnetic field, which are 

an important contribution to the diagnosis of conditions in the near-Earth space environment of 

the Sun, the solar wind, the magnetosphere, the ionosphere, and the thermosphere. During 

geomagnetic storms, brought about by the complex interaction of the Earth’s magnetic field with 

that of the Sun’s, both high- and low-frequency radio communications can be difficult or 

impossible, global positioning systems (GPS) can be degraded, satellite electronics can be 

damaged, satellite drag can be increased, and astronauts and high-altitude pilots can be subjected 

to enhanced levels of radiation.

Ground-based geomagnetic observatory data are complementary to those collected by spacebased satellites; indeed, most of the hazardous effects on technological systems brought about by 

magnetic storms occur at or near the Earth’s surface. The Geomagnetism Program monitors 

ground-level magnetic activity by operating 14 magnetic observatories in the United States and 

its territories. Data from these observatories are transmitted to the Program’s headquarters in 

Golden, CO in near-real time. USGS and foreign observatory data streams are used to calculate 

storm-time disturbance indices, such as the magnetospheric ring-current index Dst, which serves 

as a standard proxy measure of magnetic storm intensity and is an important input to numerous 

operational physics-based models of the magnetospheric-ionospheric system. Data and stormtime disturbance indices are transmitted to SWPC, U.S. Air Force, and NASA in real time. In 

addition, USGS data are utilized by private industry, foreign space weather agencies, and 

academia.

USGS observatories are operated in cooperation with INTERMAGNET

(http://www.intermagnet.org), an international consortium that coordinates the operation of over 

120 geomagnetic observatories in 40 different countries; the role of INTERMAGNET was 

recently summarized in an article in the EOS newsletter, which is published by the American 

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

Geophysical Union. The U.S. Geological Survey recently began a novel public-private 

cooperative relationship with the oil and gas drilling industry to operate a magnetic observatory 

in Alaska. The USGS Geomagnetism Program is an integral part of the National Space Weather 

Program (NSWP).

Federal Emergency Management Agency

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has participated in the development of 

the National Space Weather Strategy (NSWS) and it’s supporting Space Weather Action Plan 

(SWAP). Specifically, FEMA took the lead in developing Goal #2: Enhance Response and 

Recovery Capabilities alongside partner agencies including: DOE, DHS, NOAA and others. 

Additionally, FEMA participated in the development of the remaining goals. FEMA will 

continue to coordinate with NOAA-SWPC, NASA, DHS and other agencies to better understand 

the forecasting, observation, and impact analysis of space weather events.

FEMA continues to work across the Federal interagency to develop partnerships to increase 

preparedness against space weather threats. Along with the Department of Energy, FEMA has 

led the development of the Power Outage Incident Annex (POIA) to the Response and Recovery 

Federal Interagency Operations Plans (FIOP) to prepare for one of the primary threats from an 

extreme space weather event. While still under development, this plan will address the Federal 

government’s roles and responsibilities during a large-scale, widespread power outage. In 

addition, to increase awareness of space weather across the Whole Community, FEMA maintains 

a space weather section on the Ready.gov website (http://www.ready.gov/space-weather).

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

NOAA/National Weather Service

Space Weather Prediction Testbed

The SWPC operates the Space Weather Prediction Testbed (SWPT) to provide the operational 

Space Weather Forecast Office with new models, products, and forecast techniques. The SWPT 

provides research and development support for SWPC including model development and 

transition. The SWPT also validates and verifies new research results from the broader research 

community and works to develop and transition research models into operational products and 

services. Through these activities the SWPT achieves its principal objective of infusing the 

benefits of new research and technology into operational space weather products and services, in 

order to improve the utility and capabilities of the SWPC alerts, watches, warnings, and forecasts 

for its customers.

SWPT Activities include:

• Maintaining awareness of scientific advances and new techniques being developed to 

identify improved data-analysis techniques, forecast models and observational systems that 

have potential for significantly improving the forecast guidance provided by space weather 

forecasters;

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Space Weather Services

• Conducting, supporting and managing focused research on data-analysis techniques/ 

algorithms, forecast models and observational systems that have the potential to significantly 

improve the forecast guidance provided to space weather customers;

• Developing, testing, validating and verifying promising numerical codes and forecast 

techniques, emerging from the research community to determine their potential benefits for 

possible use in operations;

• Communicating priorities and operating procedures to maintain fair and open interactions 

with all stakeholders (operational, research, academic, international, and commercial) and to 

stimulate improvements in space weather analysis and forecasting applications;

Current projects at the SWPT include the following:

• Improvements in the one-to-four day forecasts of space weather storms by improving the 

definition and parameterization of coronal mass ejections for input into operational solarheliospheric models that forecast the propagation of solar disturbances through interplanetary 

space from the Sun to the Earth.

• Improving services to the electric power industry by implementing a 

geospace/magnetosphere model so that SWPC can provide customers with regional forecasts 

and specifications of space weather impacts on Earth.

• Improving estimates of auroral impacts by the development and transition of a three -day 

auroral forecast model that will provide estimates of where and how intense the aurora will 

be. These forecasts will be used in other space weather models as well as by the general 

public interested in observing aurora.

• Improving services to Global Positioning System /Global Navigation Satellite System

(GPS/GNSS) customers by the development of the Integrated Dynamics of Earth’s 

Atmosphere (IDEA) model which combines the Whole Atmosphere Model (extended 

NWS/GFS model) and the Ionosphere Plasmasphere Electrodynmics model. This coupled 

modeling systems will provided multi-day forecasts of the conditions that lead to ionospheric 

scintillation and the disruption of the GPS and 

GNSS signals.

U.S. Air Force

Air Force Research Laboratory

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) supports the Air Force space weather mission by 

executing research conducted by external agencies and by conducting in-house research on space 

weather. In space weather research, AFRL programs focus on ionospheric impacts to radio 

frequency systems, charged particle specification and forecasts, solar disturbance prediction, and 

neutral density effects on low-earth orbiting spacecraft. Working closely with the DMSP System 

Program Office at the Space and Missile Systems Center, under a memorandum of agreement, 

AFRL supports the development and upgrading of operational space weather sensors, models, 

and software products including space environment sensors on the DMSP spacecraft, state-ofthe-art ground-based scintillation detectors, total electron content sensors, ionospheric 

characterization, solar radio and optical emissions observing, and the Operational Space 

Environment Network Display suite of Web-based products.

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U.S. Geological Survey

The USGS Geomagnetism Program pursues scientific research for purposes of fundamental 

understanding of geomagnetic hazards, and developing products and services needed for related 

hazard assessment and monitoring. This work is consistent with priorities established in the 

strategic plans of the USGS Natural Hazards Mission Area (Goals 2 and 4, 2012), the National 

Space Weather Program (NSWP, Goals I and III, 2010), the Subcommittee for Disaster 

Reduction (SDR, Grand Challenges 1 and 2, 2010), and the Space Weather, Operations, 

Response, and Mitigation project of the National Science and Technology Council (SWORM, 

NSTC, Goals 1 and 5, 2015). 

USGS Geomagnetism Program research contributes to the broad understanding of the Earth and 

its surrounding geospace. At the same time, Program research is targeted for societal relevance, 

especially for ground-level hazards associated with variable space-weather conditions. Program 

scientists analyze geomagnetic data, often in conjunction with other types of data, such as solarwind data collected by satellites or geoelectric data collected during magnetotelluric surveys. 

Some Program research projects are phenomenological and inferential in nature, involving 

statistical and time-series analysis methods. Other projects involve comparisons of geomagnetic 

data and physics-based deterministic models. Specific projects include analysis of extreme 

magnetic-storm events, estimation of lithospheric and deep-Earth electrical conductivity, 

induction of geoelectric fields in complex lithospheric conductivity, and magnetosphericionospheric model prediction of ground-level geomagnetic disturbance.

Program research leads to the development of products and services needed for assessments and 

real-time situational awareness of geomagnetic hazards, and it informs the operation of the 

observatory network. Specific development work includes calculation of magnetic activity 

indices and mapping of geomagnetic disturbance. Work in support of operations includes the 

evaluation of data quality, averaging, and bias. Program research staff provide expert scientific 

advice, national and international leadership, and write research and educational articles about 

geomagnetism and associated hazards.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The objective of the Heliophysics Division of the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration’s (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is to understand the Sun and its 

interactions with Earth and the solar system, including space weather. The three areas of 

concentration are theory development, data collection and analysis, and modeling of the resulting 

scientific understanding. To support this effort, the division operates a fleet of 19 missions 

involving 33 spacecraft. The region of space that must be covered is huge, extending from the 

Sun through the Earth’s near-space environment and outward to the edges of the solar system.

To meet national and societal needs, NASA coordinates its space weather activities with several 

interagency and international partners, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA), which is responsible for delivering operational space weather products 

and services to the nation. Currently, five NASA research missions provide data that have 

become essential to our nation’s space weather protection community. This is done by either 

direct broadcast from the satellite to a network of NASA and non-NASA receiving antennae, or 

by data that is processed in near real-time and made accessible via the internet. The Advanced

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Space Weather Services

Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft provides data on the condition of the solar wind 

upstream of the Earth’s magnetic field. Additional space weather information is provided by the 

two Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft which broadcast beacon 

images of the far side of the Sun; as well as coronal mass ejection alerts from the European 

Space Agency (ESA)/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) and super highresolution images from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Also, the two Van Allen Probes 

provide near-real-time information on the conditions in the Earth’s radiation belts.

NASA also supports the development of space weather technology and predictive capability with 

its Research Program and the Living with a Star Science Program. With the Research Program’s 

instrument development funding, NASA is developing the next generation of instruments that 

will be capable of observing extreme space weather conditions. NASA works to continually 

improve the understanding of space weather that enables improvements to space weather 

prediction models. Also, within the Research Program, as a quality assurance activity to validate 

solar and space physics research models and to prepare them for transition into operational 

activities, NASA operates a Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC), an interagency 

collaborative activity involving the National Science Foundation (NSF), NOAA, and the DoD.

Department of Energy

The U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) 

supports the NSWP through the collection and distribution of operational data, through 

participation in research missions with space weather applications, and through the development 

of space weather models such as DREAM and AE/AP-9. One of the most significant 

contributions is the collection and distribution of space weather data from DOE/NNSA 

instruments on U.S. government satellites in geosynchronous and GPS orbits. DOE/NNSA 

geosynchronous observations have been available continuously since 1979 and, since 1989, 

measurements span energies from a few electron volts (eV) to tens of MeV. Geosynchronous 

observations are also available in real time from multiple satellites which constitutes an 

important resource for driving real-time specification and forecast models.

DOE/NNSA space weather resources on GPS satellites include both particle measurements for 

the space radiation environment and impulsive RF measurements that provide important 

information on ionospheric structure and density with global coverage (24 satellites). GPS 

observations cover the time period from 1983 to present so, as with other geosynchronous 

measurements, they provide an important resource for space weather climate models and for 

validation and testing of specification and forecast models.

DOE/NNSA, through the national laboratories, has also provided important space weather 

capabilities through the construction and operation of scientific instruments that also provide 

important space weather information. These include the plasma spectrometer on ACE (L1 solar 

wind), particle detectors on RBSP (ring current, radiation belts, solar particles), Forté 

(ionospheric structure and density), and others. DOE/NNSA has also supported the development 

of space weather models. These include the next-generation climatology model (AE/AP-9) for 

spacecraft design and the DREAM model which is a real-time assimilative model for the 

radiation belts. Both models rely heavily on geosynchronous and GPS observations. A third is 

RAM-SCB which is a model of the ring current. DOE/NNSA strives to partner with other 

entities with space weather interests and is exploring new ways in which its data, models, and 

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space weather services can be more fully utilized to support the national space weather 

enterprise.

National Science Foundation 

The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports the NSWP in pursuing the program’s objective 

to perform the research and technology transfer needed to improve the specification and 

forecasts of space weather events that can cause disruption and failure of space-borne and 

ground-based technological systems and that can endanger human health. Space Weather is now 

a dedicated program at NSF, and is joined by several cross-cutting programs 

(CEDAR/GEM/SHINE) and support for NCAR’s High Altitude Observatory. Space weather 

relevant research efforts include the development of large-scale space weather forecast models, 

construction and operation of advanced ground-based instruments and networks for the 

observation of space weather parameters, and the development and demonstration of innovative 

and creative small space weather satellites.

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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

NOAA/National Weather Service (NWS)

National Weather Service’s (NWS) Marine Program is the lead for the Nation’s marine and 

coastal weather services, encompassing a vast area from coastal waterways and near-shore bays 

and inlets to the open oceans spanning much of the northern and western hemispheres. The 

program is aimed at ensuring safe and efficient transportation, fishing, recreation and offshore 

mineral exploration, in support of both commercial and recreational interests, and with 

consideration of the expanding and weather-sensitive U.S. coastal population. Forty-seven 

coastal Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs), the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the Ocean 

Prediction Center (OPC) provide forecasts, analyses, watches, warnings and advisories of 

maritime conditions as well as coastal and tropical hazards. These services are provided for 

coastal waters, offshore and high seas waters, and Great Lakes near-shore and open lake waters. 

Coastal WFOs have responsibility for forecasts and warnings extending up to 60 nautical miles 

from the shore. NHC and OPC are responsible for offshore and high seas waters, meeting U.S. 

obligations to maritime weather safety under the International Convention for Safety of Life at 

Sea, to which the United States is a signatory.

Using observational data sources such as buoys and satellites, and numerical model guidance, 

NWS forecasters monitor weather conditions continuously over their responsible maritime 

domain. They produce and disseminate routine forecast products and analyses, watches, 

warnings, and advisories which describe maritime weather, sea ice and oceanographic conditions 

including tropical storms and coastal storm hazards. NWS coastal marine warning and forecast 

products describe wind, waves, visibility, icing, storm surge, coastal flooding, severe weather, 

high surf and rip currents. NWS tropical storm products describe track and intensity as well as 

associated coastal hazards such as storm surge, waves, and inland impacts.

The Marine Program collaborates with a wide range of partners within and outside of NOAA. 

The program relies on the NWS Office of Observations and NOAA’s National Environmental 

Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) for the collection of marine and coastal 

For purposes of this Federal Plan, Surface Transportation Services are those specialized meteorological 

services and facilities established to meet the weather information needs of the following surface 

transportation sectors: roadways, long-haul railways, the marine transportation system, rural and urban 

transit, pipeline systems, and airport ground operations. The roadway sector includes State and Federal 

highways and all State and local roads and streets. The marine transportation system includes coastal and 

inland waterways, ports and harbors, and the intermodal terminals serving them. Rural and urban transit 

includes bus and van service on roadways and rail lines for metropolitan subway and surface “light-rail” 

systems. Operational and supporting research programs for Aviation Services are often also relevant to 

airport ground operations, but program budgets counted in Aviation Services are not double-counted here 

under airport ground operations, and vice versa.

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observations and the delivery of marine and coastal products to users. Through the joint National 

Ice Center, the Program collaborates with NESDIS, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Coast Guard 

(USCG) to provide ice warning and advisory services. It supports the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast 

Guard, the U.S. Maritime Administration, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to 

operate the Nation’s Marine Transportation System safely. It collaborates with the Department of 

Defense, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security 

(DHS), and USACE to provide tropical cyclone warning and forecast services; with the USCG, 

U.S. Navy, Air Force, and private entities to disseminate weather information to mariners. It 

supports NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS) on the Physical Oceanographic Real-Time 

System (PORTS) and Tides programs; and through the World Meteorological Organization to 

coordinate maritime weather and ice safety services with national meteorological and 

hydrological services world-wide for consistent and seamless services that cover world oceans. It 

also collaborates with NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration, DOD, USCG and DHS to 

support emergency responses to maritime incidences such as hazardous material spills; maritime 

domain search, rescue, and recovery operations; and to maintain maritime domain situational 

awareness.

The NWS and Federal Highway Administration are working together to improve the 

incorporation of weather information by state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) in their 

decision making for high impact weather events. Currently, the NWS provides weather 

information through a variety of dissemination mechanisms used by some state DOTs for the 

purpose of ensuring motorist safety, and for protecting life and property. This includes 

coordination on forecasts and wording of variable message signs along roadways, engagement 

with state DOTs on 2-way NWSChat and evaluation of road models based on NWS grids. NWS 

provides direct decision support to some state DOTs in certain non-routine situations, from realtime to seasonal events, which threaten public safety or can cripple road and bridge 

infrastructure. Support has been provided outside of standard products for fires (particulates and 

winds), dense fog, dust storms, hazardous material incidents/spills, coastal and inland flooding 

(flash flood, probabilistic river forecasts, precipitation frequency Atlas and runoff), and 

dangerous winter conditions (black ice, snow accumulation, melt related flooding) or tropical 

storms. Direct support includes single-slide Impact-based Decision Support Services graphics 

prepared for specific DOTs and experimental local graphical travel pages. State DOTs have also 

captured NWS graphics for redisplay directly on their public websites or internal web pages for 

each mile marker as well as for content in their 5-1-1 Travel Information Systems. To improve 

readiness, NWS provides seasonal training workshops and site visits with state departments of 

transportation.

NOAA/National Ocean Service

Marine Transportation System Services

The National Ocean Service (NOS) is the primary civil agency within the federal government 

responsible for the health and safety of our nation's coastal and oceanic environment. Largely 

through the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) program 

line (http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/), NOS acquires water levels, currents, and other physical 

oceanographic and meteorological data and distributes these data and circulation predictions as 

elements of an integrated NOS program. This program provides a comprehensive science-based 

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suite of information required by the marine transportation 

community to ensure safe and efficient transportation, including 

the transport of hazardous materials. NOS also provides coastal 

oceanographic and meteorological products required by the 

NWS to meet its short-term weather and forecasting 

responsibilities, including tsunami and storm surge warnings. 

NOS manages several observing systems and programs; 

however, four in particular are 

heavily linked to the capability of 

NOAA to meet the marine 

transportation needs of the nation.

These stations were installed as a 

result of a partnership between NOS 

and the NWS. Data from these new 

stations will be used for storm surge 

& meteorological applications, and 

to assist emergency managers with 

real-time data for accurate lake 

modeling, storm surge predictions, 

and emergency planning and 

evacuation orders.

National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON). NOS 

manages the NWLON, which officially consists of 210 stations 

located along the coasts of the United States and the Great Lakes, 

from which water level data as well as other oceanographic and 

meteorological data are collected and disseminated. NWLON 

provides data and supporting information to a number of NOAA and 

other federal programs, such as the NOS Nautical Charting Program, 

NOS Shoreline Mapping Program, NWS Tsunami Warning System, 

NWS storm surge warning/forecast activities, and the Climate Services Program. Approximately 

182 of the 210 NWLON stations contain at least one meteorological sensor (an anemometer, a 

barometer, an air temperature sensor and at some Great Lakes stations a relative humidity 

sensor), and 150 stations are outfitted with a full suite, which includes dual anemometers, a 

barometer and an air temperature sensor. Water level and meteorological data are automatically 

formatted into SHEF bulletin format for inclusion into the NOAA AWIPS system. For more 

information see http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/nwlon.html.

Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS®). PORTS® is a decision support tool 

which improves the safety and efficiency of maritime commerce and coastal resource 

management through the integration of real-time environmental observations, forecasts, and 

other geospatial information. PORTS® measures and disseminates observations and predictions 

of water levels, currents, salinity, waves, bridge air gap and many meteorological parameters, 

needed and requested by the mariner to navigate safely. There are 25 existing PORTS® systems 

that comprise a total of 88 PORTS® water level stations. Currently, 72 of these stations contain at 

least one meteorological sensor (anemometer, barometer, air temperature sensor or a visibility 

Figure 1: This image is a reestablished meteorological 

station at Frenier Landing, 5 

miles from the new water level 

station Floodway.

Figure 2: This image is a new 

water level station installed 

on the western side of Lake 

Pontchartrain, LA at I-10 

Bonnet Carre Floodway.
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

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sensor). In FY15, two new PORTS® were added to the network in Morgan City, and Port 

Fourchon, LA. In FY16, two new PORTS® are planned in Matagorda, TX and Savannah, GA.

The PORTS® systems come in a variety of sizes and configurations, each specifically designed 

to meet local user requirements. PORTS® is a 

partnership program in which local operating 

partners fund the installation and operation of 

the measurement systems. The largest of NOS' 

existing installations is composed of over 100 

separate instruments. The smallest consists of a 

single water level gauge and associated 

oceanographic instruments. Regardless of its 

size, each PORTS® installation provides 

information that allows shippers and port 

operators to maximize port throughput while 

maintaining an adequate margin of safety for the 

increasingly large vessels visiting United States 

ports. In addition, prevention of maritime 

accidents is the most cost effective measure that 

can be taken to protect fragile coastal 

ecosystems. One major oil spill can cost billions 

of dollars and destroy sensitive marine habitats 

critical to supporting coastal marine ecosystems. 

PORTS® provides information to make 

navigation safer, thus reducing the likelihood of 

a maritime accident, and also provides the 

information necessary to mitigate the damages from a spill, should one occur. An extensible 

PORTS® can be integrated with other marine transportation technologies such as the Coast 

Guard’s Automated Identification System AIS, Electronic Chart Display Information Systems 

ECDIS, and Vessel Traffic Systems VTS. Visibility sensors are the most recent sensor type to be 

integrated into the PORTS® systems, and there are currently two visibility stations installed in 

Mobile Bay PORTS®, three in the San Francisco PORTS® and three in the new Jacksonville 

PORTS®. More visibility installations are planned for Narragansett Bay and Chesapeake Bay 

PORTS® in FY15/16. For more information see http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/ports.html.

National Operational Coastal Modeling Program (NOCMP). NOCMP serves a variety of users 

with oceanographic nowcast and forecast products for ports, estuaries and the Great Lakes. The 

integration of PORTS® technology and numerical circulation models allows nowcasts and 

predictions of up to five parameters (water level, current speed and direction, winds, water 

temperature and salinity) within the boundaries of the twelve models at locations where physical 

measurements are not available. In FY15 modelers worked on updating model engines, making 

sure the models are running on the latest version. In FY16 NOS hopes to upgrade a model on 

Lake Erie. Ongoing developments will enable the operational forecast systems to incorporate 

ecological forecast models and integrate the output with circulation measurements to provide 

information on transports of materials in the ecosystem essential for effective marine resource 

management and homeland security. Developed in FY13, model information is now 

Figure 3: Visibility Station in the New Jacksonville 

PORTS.
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automatically formatted into SHEF bulletin format for inclusion into the NOAA AWIPS system.

For more information see http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/nocmp.html.

The NOS Continuous Real-Time Monitoring System (CORMS). CORMS was designed to 

operate on a 24 x 7 basis to ensure the accuracy and working status of oceanographic and 

meteorological observations acquired via the NWLON and PORTS® programs. CORMS 

improves the overall data quality assurance of real-time measurements, reduces NOAA's 

potential liability by not publicly disseminating inadequate data, and makes the observations 

more useful for all applications. CORMS ingests real-time data from all field sensors and 

systems, including the operational nowcast/forecast models, determines data quality, and 

identifies and communicates the presence of invalid or suspect data to real-time users/customers 

who rely on the data. CORMS is especially vigilant during storm and tsunami events to ensure 

the full set of products and services is being disseminated in a timely fashion. An advanced 

version of this system, CORMS 3, provides personnel with alerts as soon as any sensor data are 

suspect or any communications problems arise. This enables speedier communication to 

instrument labs and field crews who may fix the station remotely or initiate emergency 

maintenance, thereby decreasing downtime of a particular station or sensor.

U.S. Coast Guard

Although no Coast Guard cutters or shore units are solely dedicated to meteorology, they 

collectively perform a variety of functions in support of the national meteorology program. 

USCG ocean-going cutters and coastal stations provide weather observations to the NWS. Coast 

Guard communications stations broadcast NWS marine forecasts, weather warnings, and weather 

facsimile charts. They also collect weather observations from commercial shipping for the NWS. 

USCG conducts the International Ice Patrol (IIP) under the provisions of the International 

Convention for Safety of Life at Sea. The IIP uses sensor-equipped aircraft to patrol the Grand 

Banks of Newfoundland to locate and track icebergs that pose a hazard to North Atlantic 

shipping. Direct observations are supplemented and extrapolated using a numerical iceberg drift 

and deterioration model. IIP determines the geographic limits of the iceberg hazard and, twice 

daily, broadcasts iceberg warning bulletins and ice facsimile charts which define the limits of the 

iceberg threat during the iceberg season (spring and summer). IIP annually archives data on all 

confirmed and suspected icebergs, and forwards these data to the National Snow and Ice Data 

Center. These data can be accessed via the IIP web page,

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=IIPHome. Archived data contains all iceberg sighting 

data along with the last model-predicted position of each berg. 

The Coast Guard participates with the Navy and NOAA in supporting the National Ice Center, a 

multi-agency operational center that produces analyses and forecasts of Arctic, Antarctic, Great 

Lakes, and coastal ice conditions. The Coast Guard also collaborates with NOAA in operating 

the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) which deploys and maintains NOAA’s automated 

network of environmental monitoring platforms in the deep ocean and coastal regions. Five 

Coast Guard personnel fill key technical and logistics support positions within the NDBC. Coast 

Guard cutters support the heavy lift deployment and retrieval of data buoys and provide periodic 

maintenance visits to both buoys and coastal stations, expending approximately 180 cutter days 

annually. Coast Guard aircraft, small boats, and shore facilities also provide direct NDBC 

support. 

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Meteorological activities are coordinated by the Office of Marine Transportation Systems at 

Coast Guard Headquarters. Field management of Coast Guard meteorological support services is 

performed at the Coast Guard Area and District levels.

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

DOT/Federal Highway Administration 

Road Weather Management Program

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) coordinates a number of research and 

development activities aimed at improving safety, mobility, environmental quality, and national 

security on the nation's highways. These activities include identification and mitigation of 

weather impacts on the roadway environment. The FHWA does not operate either the highways 

or their supporting weather systems but seeks to improve operations in partnership with other 

public agencies (primarily State Departments of Transportation), national laboratories, private 

firms, and universities across the transportation and meteorological communities. Since 1999, 

FHWA's weather-related research activities have been centered in the Road Weather 

Management Program (RWMP) within the Office of Transportation Operations in coordination 

with the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Joint Program Office, which is housed in the 

Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA).

The goals of the RWMP are limited but span many areas to include: improving understanding of 

weather impacts on highway transportation systems, demonstrating a nation-wide system for 

observed road weather data, research new environmental data sources, enhancing road weather 

(e.g. pavement temperature) and traffic modeling with weather inputs, enhancing mechanisms 

for communicating road weather information to users, and developing decision support tools. For 

FY2015─ FY2016, RWMP major research projects include expanded road weather observed 

data management and decision support applications, weather and road data from vehicles or 

mobile devices (mobile data), and weather-responsive traffic management.

Road Weather Observing, Data Collection and Management – The Weather Data 

Environment (WxDE)

Known as Environmental Sensor Stations (ESS), the standard method for observing road weather 

conditions is with fixed sensors near and/or actually embedded in the road surface that report 

common atmospheric weather variables plus pavement and subsurface road temperature, road 

wetness and pavement chemical concentration. Owned and operated by state, provincial or local 

transportation agencies, nearly 2,500 ESS are deployed across North America and together 

comprise one of the largest weather observing networks.

From 2006-2013, a U.S. DOT-sponsored experimental system entitled Clarus collected, 

formatted, quality checked, and displayed ESS road weather data from across North America. 

Upon meeting its goals, the Clarus System was decommissioned on June 15, 2013. However, the 

operational capability of the Clarus System is currently being transitioned to the NWS. FHWA 

and NWS signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in November 2010 to establish a 

framework for cooperation and coordination for projects like the Clarus transition to operations. 

In FY 2015, these agencies have been continuing to collaborate in the transition efforts. An 

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important area of current research for both agencies is the gathering of weather and road data 

from vehicles.

Recognizing the continued need for road weather observations in order to execute the RWMP 

research, the Program started a new project in FY 2014 called the Weather Data Environment 

(WxDE). The WxDE builds on the Clarus system’s ability to assimilate and provide access to 

road weather data from a network of fixed stations across the nation, and perform road weather 

data quality checks. In particular, the WxDE will support the intelligent aggregation, 

normalization, warehousing, processing, and dissemination of road weather data gathered from a 

variety of fixed and mobile sources. In fall 

2013, an interim demonstration instance 

(see image to the right, source: 

http://www.its-wxde.net/summaryMap.jsp) 

of the WxDE was launched to the 

community and since then, numerous 

improvements have been added to the 

system. In FY 2015 the program will 

continue to add improvements to the 

WxDE and when ready will transition to an 

operational production instance for general 

access. The WxDE provides data on an 

interoperable platform to meet the needs of 

weather-related research focused towards 

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). 

The WxDE will incorporate the most 

recent version of Vehicle Data Translator 

4.1 (VDT – see next page) so that input 

files containing weather data for mobile 

and RWIS sources, road segment 

definitions, and contextual data (e.g., radar, 

RTMA, METAR) can be included in the 

system. With the VDT 4.1, the WxDE can 

compute value-added forms of collected data and preform quality checks on mobile data, 

therefore increasing the amount of weather-related data available.

USDOT Connected Vehicle Research – Vehicle Weather Observations

Connected Vehicles Research is a multimodal initiative that aims to enable safe, interoperable 

networked wireless communications among vehicles, the transportation infrastructure, and 

personal communication devices.1 This research aims to leverage the potentially transformative 

capabilities of wireless technology to gather much more system data ultimately making surface 

transportation safer, smarter, and greener. Far beyond reliance on fixed or passive sensors, this 

emerging mobile technology has the potential to provide more extensive real-time travel and 

weather information to both the public sector and private industry.

1 See http://www.its.dot.gov/connected_vehicle/connected_vehicle.htm.

Figure 4: In fall 2013, an interim demonstration instance 

of the WxDE was launched to the community. Figure 4 is 

an example of this program.

 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

Because vehicles were not designed as weather stations, direct weather sensor readings from 

original vehicle equipment are limited to mostly air temperature and pressure, but when 

combined with other vehicle data they could prove useful. Some of the inferred weather 

variables from vehicle data are precipitation rate, visibility, and road surface condition. The 

RWMP partnered with National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) to develop the 

Vehicle Data Translator (VDT), which processes weather-related data from cars and trucks in 

order to better characterize the driving conditions along standard distance (e.g. one mile) or userdefined road segments. In FY 2014 the VDT was updated from version 3.0 to the Pikalert 

Vehicle Data Translator (VDT Pikalert). In FY 2015 the Pikalert VDT will receive 

improvements to the science of its algorithms (for nowcasts, forecasts, analysis, etc.) resulting in 

VDT version 4.1. The outputs of VDT 4.1, which processes data from connected vehicles and 

roadside units into meaningful, actionable information, will be used by existing road weather 

connected vehicle applications. This data set will potentially lead to the development of new 

road weather connected vehicle applications as well. The VDT is made available to application 

developers and others via the Open Source Application Development Portal (OSADP) -

http://itsforge.net/. 

In FY 2015 the FHWA will continue to partner with NCAR and the states of Nevada, Michigan 

and Minnesota to demonstrate how data already resident on state fleet vehicles could be 

collected, processed, transmitted and used for providing motorist advisory warnings and 

enhancing maintenance decision support systems through the Integrated Mobile Observations 

(IMO) 3.0 project. The project has been helping to determine requirements, standards, and 

procedures for the collection and processing of weather, road condition, and vehicle status 

variables from mobile sources. Mobile weather and road condition data will also be integrated 

into the WxDE. The vision is for both public and private decision-makers to have the benefit of 

decision support tools that are supported by data from millions of vehicles through the connected 

vehicle initiative.

Road Weather High-priority Research Areas

The RWMP has identified the following high-priority research areas for the next ITS Strategic 

Plan for FY 2015-2019:

• Data and Applications – Continue research on road weather sensor design and integration 

within vehicles; data communications and standards; data management and quality checking; 

interpretation of observed mobile data and proper assimilation methods for incorporation of 

mobile data with other observed and modeled data; and, improved methods for information 

display and delivery including an understanding of human factors associated with user 

interpretation.

• State and Local Implementation Issues – From the existing RWMP projects, get a better 

understanding of the barriers and opportunities for public agencies to make investments on 

Connected Vehicle RWM applications, including the extent of infrastructure investments. 

• Multi-Modal Integration – Continue research to build the bridge between ongoing state DOT 

efforts and connected vehicles and automation, in accordance with updates to the National 

ITS Architecture.

• Architecture & Standards – Update the Connected Vehicle Reference Implementation 

Architecture for RWM data and applications.

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• Early Stage Applications – Continue to engage the solutions developer community to 

research and develop applications that leverage a flexible RWM connected vehicle 

communications environment.

• Connected Vehicle Pilots – Create real-world environments, urban and rural, in which 

public- and private-sector cooperation in implementation can educate the deployment 

community on the opportunities for replicating deployment. 

• Data Exchange Facilitation & Interoperability – Continue to coordinate, internationally and 

domestically, information sharing specifications, architecture, and standards necessary for 

enhanced road weather data sharing across the public and private sectors within the 

transportation and meteorological communities. Develop and promote strategies that will 

foster interoperability among agencies for ingesting and disseminating weather data more 

universally.

• Surface Modeling – High spatial and temporal resolution surface modeling (integration of 

national weather prediction, pavement, traffic, and maintenance operations models)

• Vehicle Automation – Continue to understand the impact of road weather in connected 

vehicle automation and role of automation-enabled road weather applications in improving 

safety, mobility and environment.

• Expanded Regional Pilots – Demonstrate data management capabilities to support multimodal RWM operations and data fusion, including crowd-sourced information.

• Climate Change and Sustainability – Climate change, especially meeting the information 

needs during extreme weather events, and role of ITS in meeting the needs. Analyzing and 

anticipating the effects of climate change will ensure sustainable activities and strategies for 

deployment and operational decisions related to the ITS environment.

Weather Support for Traffic Managers

Unlike the national aviation system which has been a heavy user of weather information for 

decades, ground traffic management centers have been slow to integrate weather information 

into their operations. Since 2006, the RWMP focused a series of research projects on WeatherResponsive Traffic Management (WRTM) specifically addressing four areas: data collection and 

integration, human factors, WRTM strategies, and traffic analysis and modeling. 

Initial research has been completed in many areas such as driver behavior in inclement weather; 

traffic speed and volume adjustment guidelines for various precipitation and visibility 

conditions; WRTM state of the practice review of management strategies; test and evaluation of 

those strategies; and message guidance for road weather advisory and control information.

Only until the last few years have traffic models incorporated weather data or the effects of 

weather. The RWMP completed research on the integration of weather into several traffic 

models including dynamic traffic prediction and assignment systems. In FY 2015, deployment 

began on a limited basis in some US cities. Research is also being conducted on the use of 

mobile weather data for traffic management.

‘Pathfinder’ is a joint FHWA-National Weather service (NWS) project for improving 

transportation safety, mobility and economic productivity through cross-agency collaborative 

road weather information and messaging services. In this collaborative model, meteorologists at 

NWS Weather Forecasting Offices (WFOs) work directly with weather operations 

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personnel/meteorologists at DOTs and/or their private weather forecast firm before, during and 

after adverse weather events. The objective is to share information and develop a consistent 

public road weather message which highlights the travel impacts expected from any given 

weather event and provides decision support to public motorists. The states of California, 

Nevada, Utah and Wyoming were chosen to serve as a testbed for the documentation and 

evaluation of this collaborative model for a single winter season. These states were chosen not 

only because previous communication channels had been established between the State DOTs 

via the I-80 Corridor Coalition, but also because each of these four states represents a different 

DOT-private weather service provider relationship that conveniently spans the range of DOTprivate scenarios among the nation’s DOTs. This four-state testbed will be vital to providing 

guidance to other DOTs as they apply the collaborative model to their own operational scenarios. 

Upcoming activities include drafting guidance for cross-agency collaboration, and evaluating the 

guidance over the 2015-2016 winter. 

The Weather-responsive Traffic Management Program has deployed three systems for evaluation 

in 2015-2016. They are described below:

• The South Dakota DOT deployed their FHWA-funded weather responsive traveler 

information system. The system includes enhanced travel information on 511, 

SafeTravelUSA website, and the Android mobile app. The enhanced information includes 

National Weather Service Alerts, temperature and wind information accompanying camera 

images originating from Environmental Sensor Stations and potential road condition 

"threats" within the next 24 hours derived from Maintenance Decision Support System 

forecasts.

• The Wyoming DOT Mobile Road Condition Reporting Application, recently developed 

through a FHWA sponsored project, has been installed on more than 20 tablets in 2 districts 

in Wyoming. The application allows snow plow drivers to report road weather conditions and 

other information directly to the TMC using the tablets.

• The Michigan DOT deployed their FHWA-funded weather responsive traveler information 

system, WxTINFO – Weather Traveler Information. The system utilizes NWS models, 

radars, forecasts, and advisories, watches, & warnings; and State owned environment sensor 

stations (ESS) and mobile observations. These data are input into the system and determines 

locations that are affected, sends messages to the TMC with the associated DMS locations 

for posting. In addition, the system supports messages for the State’s traveler information 

website, MiDrive.

The FHWA will continue participation in several OFCM projects including the WIST Working 

Group and the Committee on Integrated Observing Systems (CIOS), among others. The FHWA 

is also participating in NOAA efforts to explore the development of a national mesonet system, 

and is leading the Department’s effort regarding the transportation Societal Benefit Areas of the 

National Earth Observations assessment. Nearing the end of several research projects on data 

management and applications, the RWMP has begun to look at other problem areas and update 

the program’s research agenda. For example, research has begun on the impact of weather on 

trucking, especially in the area of delay costs in truck heavy corridors/regions. The RWMP looks 

forward to building on past successes and partnering with organizations that share the same 

passion for reducing the impact of weather on the nation’s surface transportation systems.

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DOT/Federal Railroad Administration

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has outlined plans to support research on improving 

the collection, dissemination, and application of weather data to enhance railroad safety through 

its Intelligent Weather Systems project included in the FRA’s 5-year Research and Development 

Strategic Plan. These programs address safety issues for freight, commuter, intercity passenger, 

and high-speed passenger railroads. Intelligent weather systems for railroad operations consist of 

networks of local weather sensors and instrumentation—both wayside and onboard 

locomotives—combined with national, regional, and local forecast data to alert train control 

centers, train crews, and maintenance crews of actual or potential hazardous weather conditions. 

FRA intends to examine ways that weather data can be collected on railroads and moved to 

forecasters, and ways that forecasts and current weather information can be moved to railroad 

control centers and train and maintenance crews to avoid potential accident situations. This is 

one of the partnership initiatives identified in the National Science and Technology Council’s 

National Transportation Technology Plan.

Operationally, the FRA relies on the meteorological data streams coming for the National 

Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center when issuance of regulatory waivers to railroads 

during times of severe weather is necessary.

NOAA/National Ocean Service (NOS)

Marine Transportation Research

Ocean Systems Test and Evaluation Program (OSTEP). OSTEP facilitates the transition of new 

oceanographic and meteorological sensors and systems to an operational status, in support of the 

NWLON and PORTS® programs. OSTEP tests instruments to ensure that they meet NOS 

requirements, develops operational deployment and implementation processes, and establishes 

quality-control criteria. OSTEP also develops defensible justification for the selection of 

instruments used for CO-OPS installations, and subsequent validation procedures for the devices 

traceable to U.S. National Standards or other accepted standards. Ongoing testing will reveal 

correlations of visibility data to other meteorological data types, and will result in a possible 

change in the standard sensor configuration of PORTS® visibility stations. OSTEP also approved 

a new microwave water level sensor which is now being implemented across the NWLON as a 

replacement for the acoustics water level sensors. The new technology is more accurate, cheaper 

and easier to maintain.

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WILDLAND FIRE WEATHER SERVICES

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Interagency Collaborative Programs and Products 

Fire Weather Services in the National Coordination Structure for Wildland 

Fire Management

Wildland fire weather services are integral to wildland fire management. Wildland fire weather 

services enable emergency managers and state and local decision makers to understand the 

influences of weather and other atmospheric conditions on fire in the environment, and to make 

effective decisions about fire management and control.

National Wildfire Coordinating Group

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) is a collaborative group of 

intergovernmental partners with a shared vision and national responsibilities for wildland fire 

management. The partners focus on firefighter and public safety by improving coordination and 

integration through sharing talents, information, and resources. The NWCG develops and 

maintains standards, qualifications and training for use by its member organizations. The NWCG 

enables member agency efforts to be consistent and coordinated while working collaboratively 

toward common goals. The Executive Board of the NWCG includes the five Federal wildland 

fire management agencies: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bureau of Indian Affairs 

(BIA), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Park Service (NPS) in the U.S. 

Department of the Interior, and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) in the Department of Agriculture.

The Executive Board also includes representatives from the U.S. Fire Administration within the 

Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security, USFS Research, 

and three entities with responsibility for wildfire management on non-Federal forest lands: the 

National Association of State Foresters (NASF), the Intertribal Timber Council (ITC), and the 

International Association of Fire Chiefs. Oversight, policy coordination, and strategic direction 

for NWCG are provided by a series of federal and non-federal groups from the senior executive 

to the fire program levels.

The NWCG is organized into four branches, fourteen committees, and numerous subgroups, 

representing the many business areas of wildland fire (e.g. aviation, equipment, fuels, and 

qualifications). The NWCG committee most directly and frequently involved with capabilities 

For purposes of this Federal Plan, Wildland Fire Weather Services are those specialized meteorological 

services and facilities established to meet the requirements of the wildfire management community at the 

Federal, state, tribal, and local levels. The primary areas of service are to support the reduction of wildfire 

initiation potential and the mitigation of both human and environmental impacts once initiation does 

occur. Services can include support to first responders and land managers and climate services tailored to 

wildland fire management.

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for informing the wildland fire community about fire weather is the Fire Environment 

Committee (FENC) in the Planning Branch. This Committee has chartered several permanent 

subcommittees:

• The Fire Weather Subcommittee (FWS) maintains the Interagency Wildland Fire Weather 

Station Standards and Guidelines, which addresses the network of permanently located 

Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS), portable stations used for incident response 

and prescribed fire, and manual fire weather stations. The Fire Environment Observation 

Unit under the FWS consists of the agency RAWS program managers who maintain the 

network of 2200 stations for their wildland fire agencies.

• The Fire Danger Subcommittee provides interagency direction to the Forest Service for the 

National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) – a strategic planning tool and its national 

processor, the Weather Information Management System (WIMS). RAWS and manual 

station observations are key weather inputs to the NFDRS in WIMS. 

• The Fire Behavior Subcommittee provides interagency guidance for the use of fire weather 

observations for determining fire behavior predictions from a variety of tactical applications. 

These predictions include the work of Fire Behavior Analysts working closely with Incident 

Meteorologists on incidents. 

• The Fire Environment Core Curriculum Subcommittee provides technical expertise to the 

Training Branch to support the NWCG fire environment training courses.

In 2012, the FENC developed guidance released by the Executive Board on management of the 

RAWS network: http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/426/index.htm. The RAWS network is 

generally located in remote areas. RAWS observations fill a critical spatial gap in the 

initialization of the National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD).

National Interagency Fire 

Center

The National Interagency 

Fire Center (NIFC), located 

in Boise, Idaho, is the 

nation's support center for 

wildland firefighting. Eight 

different agencies and 

organizations are part of 

NIFC: the five wildland 

management agencies, the 

National Weather Service 

(NWS) in the National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA), 

the National Association of 

State Foresters, and the 

U.S. Fire Administration.

Decisions are made using the interagency cooperation concept because NIFC has no single 

director or manager. 

Figure 1: Entrance to the NIFC in Boise, showing the logos of the 

participating Federal agencies and the National Association of State 

Foresters.

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Wildland Fire Weather Services

The National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC), located at the NIFC, coordinates the 

national mobilization of resources for wildland fire and other incidents throughout the United 

States. Wildfire suppression is built on a three-tiered system of support: the local area, one of 

eleven geographic areas, and the national level. When a fire is reported, the local agency and its 

firefighting partners respond. If the fire continues to grow, the agency can ask for help from its 

Geographic Area Coordinating Center (GACC). When a geographic area has exhausted all its 

resources, it can turn to the NICC for help in locating what is needed, from air tankers to radios 

to firefighting crews to incident management teams. 

National Predictive Services Program

Under the Predictive Services Program, meteorologists who specialize in fire weather services 

team with intelligence specialists and wildland fire analysts at the GACCs and the NICC to form 

Predictive Services Units. Each GACC and the NICC has a Predictive Services unit staffed with 

one or two meteorologists and an intelligence specialist. The NICC unit and Pacific Northwest 

GACC include a wildland fire analyst, and some of the GACC units add a fire behavior specialist 

during fire season. The Predictive Services units act as centers of expertise to produce integrated 

planning and decision support tools that enable more proactive, safe, and cost-effective fire 

management.

NOAA/National Weather Service

The National Weather Service (NWS) Fire Weather Services support Federal, state, and local 

land management, supporting partners such as the Department of Interior and the Department of 

Agriculture. On the national level, both the Analyze, Forecast and Support (AFS) Office and 

NWS Office of the Chief Operating Officer (directly support tactical and strategic operations at 

NIFC. Also nationally, the NWS Storm Prediction Center issues assessments in advance of the 

development of critical fire weather patterns up to 8 days in advance. NWS Weather Forecast 

Offices (WFOs) also issue a complete Fire Weather Forecast twice daily, with updates as needed. 

The forecast contains weather information relevant to fire control and smoke management for the 

next 36-48 hours. The appropriate dispatch zones and crews use this information to plan staffing 

levels, equipment placement, prescribed burn conditions, and to assess the daily fire danger. 

Once per day, NWS meteorologists issue forecasts for specific wildland observation sites for 

input into the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS). NFDRS determines land use 

restrictions and informs the public of the daily fire danger via the Smokey Bear awareness 

campaign. The WFOs also determine if a Fire Weather Watch or a Red Flag Warning needs to be 

issued. These products alert the public and other agencies that conditions are creating the 

potential for weather conditions creating extreme fire behavior. Finally, on a request basis, NWS 

forecasters issue spot forecasts for specific fire incidents, prescribed burn projects or other allhazard incidents. In addition, the National Center for Environmental Prediction produces high 

resolution model guidance for winds, relative humidity, convection, precipitation and heat that 

may impact fire growth and environmental smoke transport over the next 3-6 hours.

Upon request, NWS also provides on-scene assistance at large wildfires or other disasters, 

including hazardous materials incidents, by deploying Incident Meteorologists (IMET) to work 

with Incident Management Teams. These forecasters come from many different WFOs of all 

major NWS regions and, in some cases, support incidents more than a thousand miles from their 

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home station. IMETs travel quickly to the incident site and then assemble a mobile weather 

center capable of providing continuous meteorological support for the duration of the incident. 

They gather other weather information through a remote connection and provide stand-up and 

on-the-spot forecasts/analysis to firefighters and agency heads. The IMET program is 

coordinated and implemented nationally by the National Fire Weather Operations Coordinator, 

National Science and Dissemination Meteorologist and the National Fire Weather Program 

Manager, located at the NIFC.

The NWS has implemented regional digital weather files to complement currently-provided spot 

forecasts. The weather output enables Fire Behavior Analysts to directly input gridded weather 

data into fire danger assessments. These improvements are particularly important near zones 

where planned communities meet the wildland forests (known as the Wildland-Urban Interface) . 

Recent improvements also include the creation of two fire weather specific gridded weather 

elements, an improved spot forecast program with access to smoke trajectory modeling. In 

addition NOAA and the USFS signed a fire weather research MOU that serves to coordinate 

applied fire weather research among the two agencies. Finally, the NWS renewed the 

Interagency Agreement for Meteorological Services with land management Agency Federal 

partners in September of 2012. The Agreement is valid through September, 2017. NWS will 

continue excellent interagency relations with the wildland fire community through 

implementation of a new Interagency Agreement for Meteorological Services.

USDA/U.S. Forest Service

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) uses meteorological data for wildland fire decision support. The 

Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management (FAM) program operates a network of 

approximately 960 remote automated weather stations (RAWS) in a national network of over 

2600 stations. The network provides real-time information which forms the foundation for the, 

Weather Information Management System (WIMS) used widely by fire agencies across the 

country. The data collected are critical to strategic and tactical wildfire decision-making, 

including use in the Wildland Fire Decision Support System, fire behavior and effects 

applications, and for decision-making during prescribed fire operations.

The program provides liaison with the Satellite Telemetry Interagency Working Group (STIWG) 

and its associated Technical Working Group and with the National Weather Service (NWS), the 

wildland fire management agencies in the Department of the Interior (BLM, FWS, BIA, and 

NPS), State fire protection agencies, and the NWCG on the delivery of fire weather data and 

forecasting, critical for safety and effectiveness of firefighting and for flash flood warnings. The 

Forest Service also manages the Interagency RAWS website (http://raws.fam.nwcg.gov). The 

information from RAWS forms the basis for fire danger assessments, pre-positioning of 

firefighting assets, and conducting prescribed fire operations. Costs for the program include 

maintenance and support contracts, training and certification sessions, contracts for synthesis and 

delivery of information to wildfire responders, fire weather forecasters, and state and local 

governments that use the data in real-time for critical decisions.

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Wildland Fire Weather Services

The agency works with the National Predictive 

Services Group at the NIFC to provide technical 

support and oversight to the 11 GACCs. It also 

works closely with the Forest Service Research and 

Development to oversee the five Fire Consortia for 

Advanced Modeling of Meteorology and Smoke 

(FCAMMS) locations. This effort, in cooperation 

with NOAA and the Environmental Protection 

Agency, provides valuable fire weather, smoke 

forecasting and air quality information to fire and air 

quality programs. The FCAMMS and Predictive 

Services Group provide critical information for both 

planning of wildland fire activities as well as 

operational decision-making.

Forest Service FAM has also initiated the Wildland 

Fire Air Quality Response Program to address 

increasingly severe smoke impacts from wildfires.

The Program encompasses a national emergency 

response cache of smoke monitoring and 

meteorological equipment which display data to 

internal decision-makers as well as the public 

through an array of websites including EPA’s 

AirNow. This program has developed a cadre of 

interagency Air Resource Advisors who are 

available for deployment to wildfire incidents to 

provide immediate air quality impact information, monitoring, predictive smoke modeling and 

collaboration with states and communities affected by smoke. Operational smoke modeling by 

Air Resource Advisors includes state of the art modeling capacity from Forest Service R&D that 

operates at fine spatial scales and includes sufficient temporal depth for proactive decision 

making. The Program also coordinates and collaborates with CDC, EPA and many states in 

guiding air quality response to wildfire smoke impacts.

The Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS) integrates state of the art science and 

technology in support of risk-informed decision making (wfdss.usgs.gov). It is a web-based 

system that integrates vegetation, topography, weather, and property and infrastructure data used 

to evaluate wildfire risk, conduct analysis, complete operational plans, and document decisions 

for all wildland fires. It facilitates access to a diverse set of analytical tools in the areas of fire 

behavior modeling, fire weather information, economic assessment, air quality and smoke 

management, and information technology to support efficient and effective wildland fire 

decisions consistent with federal and non-federal natural resource and wildland fire management 

plans and community wildland fire protection plans. The WFDSS greatly reduces the time to 

assemble and evaluate large databases by using comprehensive enterprise databases in a spatial 

context. The system also incorporates a progressive decision documentation and analysis process 

that can be scaled and adapted to match incident specific requirements and situational changes. 

Through WFDSS, information is assembled, consolidated, and processed for decision makers in 

a way that fosters collaboration and, ultimately, provides better opportunities to improve large 

Figure 2: Wildland fires in the wildlandurban interface are a continuing threat to 

lives and property.

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wildland fire strategic decision making. WFDSS is continually upgraded to provide more useful 

information, easier to use applications, and data updates 

(wfdss.usgs.gov/wfdss/pdfs/Need2Know_2015.pdf).

U.S. Geological Survey

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the USFS, routinely provides weekly 

forecasts of fire danger for the conterminous US and provides these forecasts to the National 

Interagency Fire Center. The forecasts are derived from an integration of vegetation condition 

observed from satellite and meteorological forecasts provided from the NWS’s National Digital 

Forecast Database (NDFD). The NDFD forecasts provide meteorological information necessary 

for the calculation of live and dead fuel moisture, a critical element in determining wildland fire 

danger.

For active fire, the Basic Fire Behavior and Short-Term Fire Behavior components of the 

WFDSS use forecasted weather from the NDFD. NDFD incorporates Remote Access Weather 

Station (RAWS) location to derive forecasted weather data. This forecast information, along with 

geospatial data provide by the USGS are used to derive live and dead fuel moisture 

characteristics and wind conditions to aid in the prediction of fire behavior. 

Landslides Hazards Program. Debris flows and flash floods that originate from steep 

watersheds burned by wildfire pose considerable hazards to downstream communities and 

structures. Fires throughout the western U.S. have impacted hundreds of thousands of acres of 

public land and made it susceptible to increased runoff and debris-flow activity. Science-based 

information on post wildfire debris-flow hazards is critically needed by Federal, State, and local 

agencies to issue warnings and to mitigate the impacts of post-fire hazards on people, their 

property, and natural resources. A joint NOAA/USGS, flash flood and debris flow warning 

system for recently burned basins in southern California was established in 2005 by linking the 

existing NWS Flash Flood Monitoring and Prediction (FFMP) system with rainfall intensityduration thresholds for burned areas developed by the USGS. Such a system is being used to 

issue Outlooks, Watches and Warnings that are disseminated to emergency-management 

personnel and the public through the NWS existing protocol. The USGS has also developed 

models for characterizing potential post-fire debris flow susceptibility that, when compared with 

forecast or measured precipitation, have been used to generate maps of potential hazards in realtime, which have been disseminated to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 

and the public through existing NWS protocol. The USGS has also developed models for 

characterizing potential post-fire debris flow susceptibility that, when compared with forecast or 

measured precipitation, have been used to generate maps of potential hazards in real- time, which 

have been disseminated to FEMA and to State and local agencies. Since its inception, numerous 

advisories have been given to residents and public officials, resulting in saved lives and reduced 

property damage.

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Wildland Fire Weather Services

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

Department of Agriculture

U.S. Forest Service

The research and development (R&D) mission of the USFS is to develop and deliver knowledge 

and innovative technology to improve the health and use of the Nation’s forests and grasslands—

both public and private. R&D provides this information to landowners, managers, policymakers, 

and the American people to help inform their decisions and actions. USFS researchers work 

independently and with a range of partners to provide land managers with information and 

technology to make management and land use decisions on issues such as invasive species, 

healthy watersheds, wildfires, climate change, and traditional and alternative forest products. The 

USFS R&D workforce includes scientists and technicians in the biological, physical, and social 

science fields, working in partnership with researchers from other agencies, academia, nonprofit 

groups, and industry. A few of the key accomplishments:

• A study of climate change and land-use change impacts on fire weather and fire behavior in 

the eastern U.S. using regional-scale climate models. Forest service research used climate 

change projections from the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program 

to assess where changing climate conditions in different regions of the U.S. could result in 

fire-weather conditions more conducive to extreme or erratic fire behavior. Results have 

improved understanding of potential effects that climate and land-use change have on the 

frequency of large and more extreme fires in the eastern U.S. because of more conducive 

fire-weather and fuel conditions.

• Comparison of smoke models. Forest Service scientists designed the Smoke and Emissions 

Model Inter-comparison Project to examine requirements for fire emissions and smoke 

impact modeling and conduct baseline comparisons between existing models and develop 

standard approaches for evaluating the operational capacity of new models. Results indicate 

lack of fire occurrence data quality for small fires is a major source of uncertainty for 

emissions inventories. The varying quality of wildland fuels maps used as input for modeling 

applications imposes a major source of uncertainty even in national annual emissions totals. 

Recently two major data development projects have been funded to address this issue. The 

complex dynamics of smoke plumes that form over wildland fires pose a significant 

challenge to correctly predicting air quality impacts.

• Forest service research is using emerging technologies such as airborne LiDAR to quantify 

and predict the dynamics of smoke plumes and associated transport processes to reduce 

uncertainty in determining the impacts of wildfire emissions on air quality and public health 

and safety. The research addresses gaps in parameterizing and validating smoke transport 

models and quantitatively defines uncertainties, biases, and limits in existing and emerging 

applications. Results indicate that previous estimates of wildfire emissions may have 

underestimated the production of pollutants and, therefore, the potential of wildfire to 

degrade air quality.

• The Forest Service Planning Rule requires national forests to consider air quality when 

developing plan components and to consider air resources consistently with soil and water 

resources. Forest Service managers use applications developed by Forest Service researchers 

to measure or estimate the amount of atmospheric deposition occurring on National Forests 

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and if the amount of deposition affects forest resources. With this requirement in mind, an 

Air Quality Portal has been developed as an online decision management tool to assist forest 

managers in evaluating air pollution impacts on their landscapes. By creating an easy-to-use 

resource to facilitate consideration of air resources for forest planning, we ensure a nationally 

consistent methodology which incorporates the best available science and data and eases the 

burden on land managers. Briefings and presentations have demonstrated and advertised this 

tool to internal and external staffs and organizations. Internal feedback has focused on using 

the Air Quality Portal as a model for providing guidance on forest planning in other resource 

areas. External feedback has focused on expanding availability of the tool for management 

use in other agencies and organizations, because the Portal is currently only available on the 

FS intranet.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) supports innovative, near-term 

demonstrations of its scientific results, technology developments, and satellite observations for 

societal benefit through its Applied Science Program element of the Earth Science Division 

(ESD). These projects serve as a bridge between NASA-generated data, derived products, 

information, knowledge and the decision-making needs of public and private organizations. Endusers of NASA’s products are able to apply Earth observations and model results to support 

activities that influence productivity, enhance quality of life, and strengthen the economy.

Wildland Fire Weather Applications: New Opportunities. In FY 2015, the NASA ESD, Applied 

Sciences Program completed their first year of the nine funded Phase II Wildfire Applications 

Projects. During the Phase II developments the projects are expected to successfully transition 

their capabilities to operational use by partner organizations. Partner organizations are expected 

to ramp-up their support and provide operational continuity of the transitioned capabilities. The 

projects advancing to Phase II focused on fire-related multidisciplinary topics including health 

and air quality, ecological forecasting, fire weather, water resources, disasters, and climate, and 

addressed all stages of wildland fire activities (pre-fire, active-fire, and post-fire assessment). In 

FY16, the projects are expected to provide baseline data, models and information, in a quasioperational environment, allowing early assessment of adaptation by their partners. By the end of 

FY17, the projects are expected to have operationalized / transitioned their models, tools, and 

information sets, for use by their partner organizations.

Of the nine selected Phase II wildland fire applications projects, four had a focused fire-weather 

forecasting and modeling component. Those four projects are highlighted here:

• Wildland Fire Behavior and Risk Forecasting focuses on improving forecasting of wildland 

fire behavior and risk through inclusion of NASA / NOAA remote sensing observations, 

integrated within NOAA fire weather forecasting systems. The system is based on a coupled 

atmosphere-wildland fire model, which combines the Weather Research and Forecasting 

model (WRF) with a fire spread model (WRF-SFIRE) and a dynamic fuel moisture model. 

Dynamic data from NASA and NOAA orbital platforms (moisture estimation, burn scar 

mapping, and fire detection) are assimilated into the simulations. The system is accessed 

through NOAA FX-Net system or a website, and downloadable KML files for visualization 

in Google Earth. Expected operational partners to advance the capabilities include NOAA, 

US Forest Service and BLM.

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Wildland Fire Weather Services

An Integrated Forest and Fire Monitoring and Forecasting System for Improved Forest 

Management in the Tropics focuses on development of a near-real-time alert system (FireCast) 

for use in non-traditional partner countries (such as Bolivia, Peru, Madagascar, and Indonesia) to 

enable improved fire monitoring, forecasting and improving monitoring of illegal forest activities 

(harvesting, burning, etc.). Firecast will include monitoring by NASA / NOAA orbital 

observation assets (MODIS, VIIRS, and Landsat) and development of fire risk models based on 

observed vegetation condition class and fire weather variables. Firecast will make a strong 

contribution to enhancing conservation and sustainable development goals for each of the target 

countries.

• TOPOFIRE: A System for Monitoring Insect and Climate-Induced Impacts on Fire Danger 

in Complex Terrain integrates NASA remote sensing and climate products into a decision 

support tool that delivers a suite of high spatial resolution real-time information essential to 

wildland fire management. Data from thousands of temperature and humidity sensors 

distributed across the US will enable refinement of the North American Land Data 

Assimilation System (NLDAS) downscaling algorithms, and the generation of high 

resolution historical and real-time gridded climate datasets. The fire spread simulator 

FARSITE will be modified to assimilate gridded microclimate data, which will be coupled 

with high resolution hydrologic outputs to produce on-demand fire behavior simulations that 

account for topo-climate and disturbance-induced structural change. Crowd-sourced weather 

and fuels information from incidents will be assimilated into hydro-climatic and fire behavior 

models, returning terrain and location-corrected fire behavior and incident risk information 

via smart phone to the firefighter.

• Development and Application of Spatially Refined Remote Sensing Active Fire Data Sets in 

Support of Fire Monitoring, Management and Planning builds on proven science algorithms 

to produce new spatially refined active fire detection satellite products that yield significantly 

improved fire information. In addition, these products are used to initialize and validate fire 

growth predictions in a coupled weather-fire model that accounts for fuel information NASA 

/ NOAA orbital sensors) and weather forecasts (including wind forecasts) to optimize the 

modeled outputs. The significance is that this approach can now be applied to monitor and 

predict the growth of a fire or a group of simultaneous wildland fires in a management unit 

from first detection until containment. The project focuses on near real-time operational 

delivery of new satellite remote sensing fire data, including customized products tailored for 

the end user community. Key partner agencies include the USDA Forest Service and the 

National Weather Service.

Each of these projects will result in an improvement in the capacity of the fire management 

community to monitor, model, predict and manage fire behavior to reduce impacts on the 

community and still optimize ecological balances and benefits that fire can provide. The 

integration of fire weather information and models can and will improve our capacity to 

understand fire interplay in the ecosystem.

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OTHER SPECIALIZED SERVICES

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) provides operational weather 

support to spaceflight operations through the Human Exploration and Operations Mission 

Directorate (HEOMD). 

Kennedy Space Center Weather Office

The HEOMD Weather Office at NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSCWO) has oversight 

responsibility for operation and maintenance of the weather information infrastructure required 

for NASA’s manned spaceflight programs, and Expendable Launch Vehicles (ELV) programs. 

The infrastructure is a multi-agency partnership between NASA, the Department of Defense 

(DOD), and the Department of Commerce (DOC), and includes KSCWO, NASA’s Marshall 

Space Flight Center (MSFC) and Johnson Space Center (JSC), the DOD’s US Air Force (USAF) 

30th and 45th Space Wings, and the DOC’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

(NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) Spaceflight Meteorology Group (SMG). KSCWO 

also provides daily staff meteorological support to Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and NASA 

programs operating from KSC or the Eastern Range.

The ELV program operates from many locations, including Cape Canaveral Air Force Station 

(CCAFS) in Florida, Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California, NASA Wallops Flight 

Facility (WFF) in Virginia, the Alaska Aerospace Corporation Pacific Spaceport Complex –

Alaska (PSCA; formerly Kodiak Launch Complex) in Alaska, and the US Army Ronald Reagan 

Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site on Kwajalein Island. KSCWO ensures that DOD weather 

support at DOD sites meets NASA requirements through training, technology, and tools. The 

KSCWO works with non-DOD sites and their weather service providers (such as the NWS or 

commercial companies) to provide similar assurance at those sites for NASA launches.

KSCWO is the NASA lead for the joint NASA and USAF Lightning Advisory Panel (LAP), 

which provides independent scientific assessments of changes to the lightning launch commit 

criteria (LLCC) and technical guidance about lightning-related issues on facilities and ground 

operations. The Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

utilizes the same criteria for lightning flight commit criteria (LFCC) at commercial spaceports.

For purposes of this Federal Plan, Other Specialized Services include weather and climate 

information services and facilities established to meet the special needs of user agencies or 

constituencies not included in basic services or the preceding service categories. This service category 

includes any efforts to integrate the social sciences into meteorological operations, applications, and 

services not already described in the preceding sections.

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

In FY 2015, the KSCWO:

• Supported the Tri-Program through infrastructure and requirements concept studies for the 

Space Launch System (SLS), Multi Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV), Ground Systems 

Development and Operations (GSDO), and Experimental Flight Test 1 (EFT-1)

• Supported NASA ELV launches from NASA/WFF and the Eastern and Western Ranges, as 

well as commercial and DOD launches from the Eastern Range

• Supported infrastructure and concept of operations development for commercial launch 

programs and the NASA/WFF

• Supported the Morpheus Lander Project by providing forecasts and weather consultations 

from the USAF 45th Weather Squadron for multiple Morpheus test firings at KSC

• Support installation and certification testing of the new 50-MHz Doppler Radar Wind 

Profiler (DRWP)

• Supported the Lightning System Upgrade (LSU) on the Eastern Range for data 

communication and validation

• Continued assisting the FAA with the development of LFCC for the commercial sector

In FY 2016, the KSCWO will:

• Continue to support the ELV program

• Continue to support NASA/WFF, PSCA, and other launch facilities in addition to the DOD 

Ranges

• Continue to support commercial launch operators in developing weather infrastructure, 

requirements, and concepts of operation

• Continue assisting the FAA with the development of LFCC for the commercial sector

• Support the Tri-Program, and continue support for planning and design of the test flight 

programs

• Continue to work with the Eastern Range and other Ranges to define the requirements and 

infrastructure for weather support to NASA ELV and manned spacecraft in the post-Shuttle 

era

Spaceflight Meteorology Group

The SMG is located at NASA/JSC. In FY 2015, the SMG: 

• Operated with significantly reduced staff of 1 meteorologist 

• Provided consultation on the Orion/MPCV, including post-EFT-1 analysis

• Supported Orion parachute drop test events at Yuma Proving Ground and near Eloy, AZ with 

surface and upper wind forecasts

• Supported NASA with enroute forecasts for recovery personnel flying from Houston to 

Kazakhstan and back to Houston -- to retrieve U.S. astronauts landing on the Russian Soyuz 

spacecraft after flying on the International Space Station

• Provided the NASA/Langley SCIFLI project cloud forecasts for thermal imaging of 

commercial launch vehicles as requested

• Provided support for several large outdoor events at JSC

• Provided ongoing lightning and severe weather customized advisories for JSC management, 

weather sensitive operations, and employees

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Other Specialized Services

• Began landing site climatology studies and other pre-operational planning consultation for 

other missions scheduled to be controlled from the JSC Mission Control Center (MCC)

In FY 2016, SMG will:

• Provide consultation on the Orion/MPCV

• Participate in NASA/JSC MCC landing simulations for Orion/MPCV

• Continue consultation with commercial crew mission scheduled to be controlled from the 

JSC MCC

• Implement AWIPS II enhancements focused upon Orion/MPCV, other manned programs 

and JSC specific support

• Support Orion parachute drop test events at Yuma Proving Ground, AZ with surface and 

upper wind forecasts

• Support NASA with enroute forecasts for recovery personnel flying from Houston to 

Kazakhstan and back to Houston – to retrieve U.S. astronauts landing on the Russian Soyuz 

spacecraft after flying on the International Space Station

• Provide weather support to large outdoor events at JSC

• Provide lightning, severe weather, and tropical storm/hurricane customized advisories for 

JSC management, weather sensitive operations, and employees

The Space Radiation Analysis Group

The Space Radiation Analysis Group (SRAG) is located at JSC and is responsible for ensuring 

that the radiation exposure received by astronauts remains below established safety limits. SRAG 

is responsible for daily assessment of the space weather environment for human exploration, and 

works directly with flight control teams to assess real-time mission impacts of adverse space 

weather conditions. Some of the key space weather-related activities that SRAG is conducting in 

FY 2015 and FY 2016 include:

• Daily monitoring of the space weather environment and impact assessment for crewed 

missions. 

• Developing and maintaining protocols for radiation environment contingency response and 

analysis. 

• Operating instruments both internal and external to crewed spacecraft for radiation 

environment characterization, quantification and impact assessment. 

• Building and processing of crew worn passive dosimeters and maintaining all crew radiation 

exposure records. 

• Design and Development of next generation radiation sensors that reduce mass, volume, and 

power without compromising data integrity.

• Developing collaborations for maintaining necessary space radiation measurements for 

instruments operating beyond planned lifetimes. 

• Leading the development of space weather forecasting models.

• Transitioning maturing space weather forecast models from research to operations. 

• Leading development of state-of-the-art radiation transport tools for vehicle design radiation 

analysis.

• Implementing state-of-the art radiation risk models used to ensure astronauts are within 

lifetime career radiation risk limits.

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• Providing annual, end-of-active service, and ad hoc astronaut radiation risk reports.

Marshall Space Flight Center

The Natural Environments Branch (NEB) develops and implements weather support 

requirements for the SLS and other programs, including development and evaluation of launch 

constraints. 

In FY 2015, the NEB:

• Continued to develop terrestrial environment specifications, and provide atmospheric data 

and models for vehicle design and operation for the SLS and MPCV programs

• Developing preliminary day-of-launch procedures relating to upper air wind and 

thermodynamic requirements for the SLS and MPCV programs

• Providing insight into the atmospheric data and models used for vehicle and operations 

design for the Commercial Crew Program (CCP)

In FY 2016, the NEB will:

• Continue to develop and improve atmospheric wind and thermodynamic climatological data 

sets and models for vehicle design and operational safety margin analysis for the SLS and 

MPCV programs

• Continue developing day-of-launch procedures relating to upper air wind and thermodynamic 

requirements for the SLS and MPCV programs

• Continue to provide insight into the atmospheric data and models used for vehicle and 

operations design for the CCP

U.S. Air Force Space Launch Support

Air Force weather organizations provide meteorological and space weather products to the 

Nation’s space and missile programs, including a wide range of weather observing services at the 

Air Force Eastern Range and KSC. AF weather organizations also provide tailored forecasting 

for NASA’s manned and unmanned launches and for commercial launches from KSC. In 

addition, AF weather personnel provide specialized meteorological information for the Air Force 

Western Range at Vandenberg Air Force Base (AFB), California; the Pacific Missile Range, 

which includes Point Mugu and San Nicholas Island, California, and Barking Sands, Hawaii; 

White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico; Kwajalein Missile Range, Republic of the Marshall 

Islands; and other Department of Defense (DoD) research and test facilities as directed. The 45th 

Weather Squadron directly supports the 45th Space Wing of Air Force Space Command at 

Patrick AFB, Florida, and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The 30th Operations 

Support Squadron Weather Flight supports the 30th Space Wing across the Western Range at 

Vandenberg AFB, California.

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Other Specialized Services

U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command

Support to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site (RTS)

The RTS meteorological services contractor provides support for range activities, including local 

and remote missile launches, missile weapons readiness testing, and aviation, marine, and

emergency operations.

A full suite of meteorological surface, upper air, satellite, radar, and lightning observing systems 

are available. Surface systems include an intra-atoll mesonet and an FAA-approved Automated 

Weather Observing System (AWOS IIIP/T), supporting range and International 

Civil Aviation Organization at Bucholtz 

Army Airfield (AAF) and an automatic 

meteorological observing system at 

Dyess AAF. Upper air sounding 

systems (1680 MHz), utilizing Global 

Positioning System (GPS) radiosondes, 

are located on Kwajalein and RoiNamur. One portable GPS upper air 

system (403 MHz) is available to 

provide soundings at remote locations. 

A dual-polarized Doppler S-band 

weather radar provides weather 

surveillance from Kwajalein Island, and 

a Doppler C-band weather radar is 

available for operations at Wake Island. 

Both are volume-scanning radars that 

support prediction of lightning events. 

The Polar-orbiting Operational 

Environmental Satellite (POES) satellite 

receiver at Kwajalein is in the process of being replaced by a new X- and L-band dual frequency 

system that will provide the Range with multiple satellite capability for cloud detection, 

movement, analyses and one geostationary satellite receiver, with data processing and analysis 

provided through McIDAS management and display supporting all systems. A low-gain 

lightning detection network of four sensors is available to the RTS meteorologist in support of 

Kwajalein Atoll. A thunderstorm sensor that includes a field mill supports lightning prediction 

and detection at Wake Island. One thunderstorm sensor is attached to the AWOS III-P/T at 

Bucholtz Army Airfield. RTS provides rocketsondes locally and at remote locations where radar 

tracking can support.

In cooperation with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, RTS Weather continues to support 

global climate studies through Global Precipitation Measurement. Solar-Earth radiation fluxes 

monitoring with a suite of radiation measurements systems began in 1989 and are being 

reestablished by NOAA’S Earth Systems Research Laboratory (ESRL).

Figure 1: A rocketsonde launch on Kwajalein Atoll. U.S. 

Army Photo.

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

National Park Service/Fish and Wildfire Service

NPS Air Quality and Visibility Monitoring

The National Park Service (NPS) monitors air quality and visibility in a number of national parks 

and monuments. Gaseous pollutant data are collected on continuous and integrated (24-hour to 

weekly) bases. Surface meteorological data are collected and analyzed for hourly averages. 

Precipitation chemistry is determined on week-long integrated rainfall samples. Twenty-fourhour-average particle concentrations (mass, elemental analyses, some chemical constituent 

analyses) are measured every third day. Atmospheric light extinction is measured continuously 

and relayed to a central location for analyses.

Joint Air Quality Monitoring

The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Air Quality Branch and the NPS Air Resources Division 

operate under an interagency agreement and are located in Lakewood, Colorado. Expertise from 

both agencies is pooled to address the air quality issues that are the responsibility of the Assistant 

Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

Figure 2: Map of one-year average standard visual range (SVR) from 2014, in kilometers, calculated 

from IMPROVE particle concentrations. Also shown are the locations of most of the IMPROVE and 

IMPROVE protocol sites in the contiguous U.S.

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Other Specialized Services

The NPS oversees the operation of the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments 

(IMPROVE) network and the IMPROVE Protocol network in cooperation with the 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), NOAA, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the FWS, the 

Bureau of Land Management, and various State organizations. Currently, the network has about 

165 sites, mostly funded by the EPA in support of its regional haze regulations and through other 

cooperators. The enhanced network allows a better characterization of visibility and fine particle 

concentrations throughout rural and remote areas of the country (see figure on previous page).

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Assessments and evaluations of radiological impacts.

At the present time, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is a user of meteorological 

information rather than a performer of research in this field. Meteorological data are used to 

assess radiological impacts of routine airborne releases from facilities and to evaluate the impact 

of proposed changes in plant design or operation during unplanned releases. The NRC also 

maintains an interest in the effects of extreme meteorological events on the safe operation of 

nuclear facilities. The NRC uses current meteorological information and climatological 

predictions of extreme meteorological events over a range of timeframes, including long-term 

events greater than 100 years, to evaluate new reactor designs and sites, as well as existing and 

operating reactor locations. In FY 2015, the NRC has also seen a need to understand even rarer 

phenomenon, such as maximum precipitation events on even longer timeframes. Information of 

this type is also important for developing scenarios of climatological impacts on the isolation of 

long-lived nuclear wastes. 

Within the NRC, the Offices of Nuclear Reactor Regulation and New Reactors conduct reviews 

of nuclear power plant siting, design, construction, and operation, while the Office of Nuclear 

Material Safety and Safeguards conducts similar reviews of materials and waste facilities. All of 

these reviews include consideration of meteorological factors. Employees of these NRC offices 

also conduct rulemaking activities to establish regulatory requirements, and the NRC Regional 

Offices assure that NRC licensees comply with the regulatory requirements.

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

U.S. Army

U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

The U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) incorporates weather 

as an essential component in studying and modeling human physiology and biophysics, with the 

goal of improving Warfighter performance and minimizing health risks associated with 

environmental extremes. USARIEM and partners at U.S. Army Research Laboratory-White 

Sands Missile Range (ARL-WSMR) are developing methodologies for integrating real-time 

local environmental data and Warfighter physiological data into predictive models and Soldierscale weather forecasting. The effective combination of these two dynamic data streams will 

enable real-time predictions of environmental strain and physiological status for Warfighters.

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

National Park Service

Air Quality Research

The National Park Service (NPS) conducts research to develop and test air quality models to 

assess long-range transport, chemical transformation, and deposition of air pollutants. These 

models are used to estimate source contributions to, and to identify source regions responsible 

for, observed pollutant loadings.

The NPS is conducting research in the area of atmospheric nitrogen loading to high-elevation 

ecosystems in the Rocky Mountains, which have documented effects from nitrogen deposition. 

The NPS participated in the July 2014 Deriving Information on Surface conditions from Column 

and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality (DISCOVER-AQ) and the Front 

Range Air Pollution and Photochemistry Experiment APPÉ) field campaigns taking place in the 

Denver, Colorado area extending into the mountains, which includes Rocky Mountain National 

Park. Measurements of oxidized and reduced nitrogen compounds, organic nitrogen compounds, 

a variety of volatile organic compounds, and ozone were made at the park. These measurements 

are being used to better understand the sources of nitrogen deposition and the contributors to 

high ozone. These measurements are integrated with commensurate airborne and ground 

measurements in the region. Analysis will continue into 2016.

NPS is also examining the effects of recent oil and gas development in North Dakota on 

Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Concentrations of oxides of nitrogen, ozone, volatile organic 

compounds and speciated fine particles were measured during a second field campaign from 

November 2013 to March 2014 to assess atmospheric deposition and visibility impairment at the 

park. Analyses were conducted in 2015 and will continue into 2016.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Applied Meteorology Unit

The Applied Meteorology Unit (AMU) is a joint venture between KSCWO, USAF 45th Space 

Wing (45 SW), and NOAA NWS. The AMU is co-located with the 45th Weather Squadron (45 

WS) located at CCAFS. The AMU develops, evaluates, and transitions weather technology into 

operations.

In FY 2015, the AMU:

• Operated with reduced staff of 2.5

• Updated, and delivered, the AMU developed Weather Tower Climatology Tool used by the 

30th Operations Support Squadron (OSS) at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) to include 

four additional sensor levels.

• Completed the LSP Upper Winds Tool upgrade to include implementation of the algorithm 

to splice the 915-MHz DRWP with the 50-MHz DRWP now that the new 50-MHz DRWP is 

providing real time data.

• Set up the new AMU-WRF with expanded model domains to run in real-time. The new 

domains include the 12-km domain to cover the state of Florida including both coasts and 

extends just east of the Bahamas, the 4-km domain to cover the east and west coasts of 

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Other Specialized Services

Florida from St. Augustine to Fort Lauderdale, and the 1.33-km domain to cover the east 

coast just south of St. Augustine to West Palm Beach and out west to Lakeland. This helps 

the 45 WS forecasters better track the west coast sea breeze before it impacts KSC/CCAFS 

and monitor tropical cyclones near the east coast of Florida. It also provides high resolution 

model forecasts for the NOAA NWS in Melbourne (NWS MLB) over their entire County 

Warning Area (CWA).

• During the Atlas 5 launch on 20 January, created an AMU-WRF model forecast product of 

percent cloud cover in a layer from 10,000 to 30,000 feet to assist the 45th WS LWO. The 

LWO was interested in the amount of cloud forecast at T-0 in the vicinity of the freezing 

level to support the thick cloud rule and triggered lightning rule launch commit criteria. The 

AMU-WRF forecast the clouds to clear by T-0, which they did.

• Supported launch operations for three Atlas V, two Delta IV and five Falcon 9.

In FY 2016, the AMU will:

• Possibly operate with reduced staff

• Analyze and compare the upper level winds from the 50-MHz DRWP against the CCAFS 

rawinsonde (sounding balloon) data as part of the long-term operational acceptance test

• Partner with the NWS MLB to develop a real-time triple-Doppler radar wind field display for 

operational analysis and model input

• Support launch operations for Atlas V, Delta IV and Falcon 9.

Environmental Protection Agency

Air Quality Research

Meteorological support to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Research and 

Development and Office of Air and Radiation, EPA regional offices, and to State and local 

agencies includes the following activities:

• Conducting basic and applied research in air quality modeling

• Conducting field studies for air quality model development and air quality model evaluations

• Developing and applying multi-scale and multi-pollutant air quality models for pollution 

control, direct and indirect exposure assessments, and emission control strategy assessment

• Reviewing of meteorological aspects of environmental impact statements, state 

implementation plans, and pollution variance requests

• Providing Air Quality Index forecasts to state and local agencies for health advisory 

warnings

• Understanding the relationships between air quality and human health

• Understanding the atmospheric loading of pollutants to sensitive ecosystems

• Understanding the interactions of global climate change and air quality

• Emergency response planning in support of homeland security

Meteorological expertise and guidance are also provided for developing the national air quality 

standards, modeling guidelines, and policy development activities of the EPA. In light of the 

1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act and the recent national rules, air quality models and the 

manner in which they are used are expected to continue to grow over the next few years. In the 

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

area of pollutant deposition, the evaluation of nitrogen, oxidant, sulfur, and aerosol chemistries 

will help to clarify the roles of model formulation, cloud processes, aerosols, radiative transfer, 

and air/surface exchanges in air quality model predictions, leading to a better understanding of 

model predictions relative to control strategy assessments. Further development and evaluation 

of existing air quality models will take place to accommodate the inter-pollutant effects, resulting 

from the variety of control programs that are now or may be in place, such as the new National 

Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and particulate pollution. These inter-pollutant effects 

include trade-offs among controls on ozone, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic 

compounds, as well as developing predictable methods of forecasting the impacts on various 

measures of air quality.

With respect to the fine particulate model development, air quality models are being enhanced to 

accurately predict aerosol growth from precursors over local and regional-scale transport 

distances. As the concentration thresholds for the standards decrease, it will be important to 

understand intercontinental transport of pollution and how this would affect our ability to meet 

and maintain standards in the future. To assist in the evaluation of the contribution of various 

sources to regional air degradation, inert tracer and tagged species numerical models have been 

developed. These models will introduce separate calculations for inert or reactive chemical 

species emitted from a particular source or region. The calculations will proceed to simulate 

transport and transformation to a receptor point, where the contribution of emission sources can 

be discerned.

Atmospheric research, regarding the effects of climate change on regional air quality, involves 

both analytical and statistical climatology as well as linking global climate models with regional 

chemical transport models, and the development of coupled models to better simulate the 

interactions between meteorology and atmospheric chemistry. Currently research is underway to 

test the efficacy of these models to accurately simulate the effects of aerosols on radiation.

Research in human exposure modeling includes both micro-environmental monitoring and 

modeling and the development of exposure assessment tools. This research entails linking air 

quality models to exposure models to understand the relationships between air quality and 

human health. Micro-environmental algorithms are being developed based on field data to 

predict air quality in buildings, attached garages, and street canyons. These improved algorithms 

are then incorporated into micro-environmental simulation models for conducting human 

exposure assessments within enclosed spaces in which specific human activities occur.

In addition to the above major areas, dispersion models for inert, reactive, and toxic pollutants 

are under development and evaluation on all temporal and spatial scales; i.e., indoor, urban, 

complex terrain, mesoscale, regional, and global. Other efforts include modeling nutrient 

deposition to the Chesapeake Bay and Gulf Coast, mercury deposition to the Florida Everglades, 

and the determination of meteorological effects on air quality. Atmospheric flow and dispersion 

experimental data obtained from wind tunnel and convection tank experiments in the EPA Fluid 

Modeling Facility will be used to continue development and evaluation of these models along 

with providing researchers with insight into the basic physical processes that affect pollutant 

dispersion around natural and man-made obstacles. For example, the transport and dispersion of 

airborne agents in the Manhattan, New York, and the Pentagon were simulated in the wind 

tunnel to help build confidence in the modeling assessment of the source-receptor relationships 

for horrific events such as the one that occurred on September 11, 2001. The impacts of roadway 

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Other Specialized Services

configuration, noise barriers, and vegetation on air quality near roadways are being assessed, and 

improvements are being made to the EPA’s AERMOD model to better simulate the transport and 

dispersion of pollutants from roadways and building downwash.

Over the past 25 years, numerous air quality simulation models have been developed to estimate 

reductions in ambient air pollutant concentrations, resulting from potential emission control 

strategies. Separate models were developed, for example, for tropospheric ozone and 

photochemical smog, for acid deposition, and for fine particles. Distinct models also existed for 

addressing urban scale problems and the larger regional scale problems. It has been recognized, 

however, that the various pollutant regimes are closely linked chemically, spatially, and 

temporally in the atmosphere. The principal purpose of the Community Multi-scale Air Quality 

(CMAQ) modeling project was to develop a “one-atmosphere,” flexible environmental modeling 

tool that integrates the major atmospheric pollution regimes in a multi-scale, multi-pollutant 

modeling system. This system will enable high-level computational access to both scientific and 

air quality management users for socio-economic applications in community health assessments 

and ecosystem sustainability studies. 

The CMAQ model (first released in June 1998) is used by Federal and state agencies, industry, 

and academia and is updated periodically to reflect the state-of-science. The latest version of 

CMAQ, which includes science enhancements and computational efficiencies, is scheduled for 

release during the fall of 2015. It is also intended to serve as a community framework for 

continual advancement and for use in conducting environmental assessments. To this end, EPA 

has established a Community Modeling and Analysis System at the University of North Carolina 

in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to provide user support and training to modelers at the state 

agencies and universities. New versions of the CMAQ modeling system and associated 

documentation (Installation and Operations Manual, User Manual, Science Document, and 

tutorial) are publicly available. Additional information is available on the division website at 

http://www.epa.gov/amad.

From FY 2005 to FY 2008, the EPA worked closely with the NWS National Centers for 

Environmental Prediction (NCEP) in the continued development, evaluation, and use of a 

coupled meteorological-chemical transport model (WRF-CMAQ) for predicting ambient air 

quality over the continental United States. NWS implemented the CMAQ modeling system, to 

provide daily forecast guidance for ozone nationwide on an operational basis and fine particulate 

matter forecast on an experimental basis. State and local air quality management agencies are 

responsible to forecast local air quality and provide health advisory warnings.

The EPA, through participation in the interagency Information Technology Research and 

Development (IT R&D) Program, is developing a modeling framework that supports integration 

of diverse models (e.g., atmospheric, land surface, and watershed). The EPA’s IT R&D work 

also enables increased efficiency in air quality-meteorological modeling through research on 

parallel implementation of the CMAQ modeling system. The evolving research seeks to improve 

the environmental management community’s ability to evaluate the impact of air quality and 

watershed management practices, at multiple scales, on stream and estuarine conditions. The 

following primary objectives are directed toward this goal:

• Developing a prototype multiscale integrated modeling system with predictive 

meteorological capability for transport and fate of nutrients and chemical stressors

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs

• Enabling the use of remotely sensed meteorological data

• Developing a computer-based problem-solving environment with ready access to data, 

models, and integrated visualization and analysis tools for water and air quality management, 

local and regional development planning, and exposure-risk assessments

A variety of research areas are being pursued such as the integration of hydrology and 

atmospheric models; coupling of meteorology and atmospheric chemistry calculations to account 

for the influence of radiatively active atmospheric pollutants on atmospheric dynamics and 

subsequent effects on air pollution; enhanced atmospheric dry deposition models; multi-scale 

and spatially explicit watershed modeling tools; and model-coupling technology for integrating 

media and scale-specific models. 

The EPA also maintains good working relationships with foreign countries to facilitate the 

exchange of research meteorologists and research results, pertaining to meteorological aspects of 

air pollution. For example, agreements are currently in place with Canada, the United Kingdom, 

Greece, Japan, Korea, China, India, and Mexico, and with several European countries.

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APPENDIX A

ACRONYMS

A-1
Appendix A - Acronyms

3DWF 3D [three dimensional] Wind Field [model]

4DWX Four-Dimensional Weather System

AAWU Alaska Aviation Weather Unit

ACC [USAF] Air Combat Command

ACCESS Advancing Collaborative Connections for Earth System Science

ACE Advance Composition Explorer

AD Active Duty

ADA Air Domain Awareness

ADAS AWOS Data Acquisition System

ADDS Aviation Digital Data Service

AFB Air Force Base

AFCENT Air Force Central Command

AFI Air Force Instruction

AFRC Air Force Reserve Command

AFRI Agriculture and Food Research Initiative

AFRL Air Force Research Laboratory

AFW Air Force Weather

AFWA Air Force Weather Agency

AFWEPS Air Force Weather Ensemble Prediction Suite

AFW-WEBS Air Force Weather Web Services

AgriMet [Bureau of Reclamation] Agricultural Weather

AHPS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service

AIP Airport Improvement Program [FAA]

AIRMoN Atmospheric Integrated Research Monitoring Network

AMC U.S. Army Materiel Command

AMS American Meteorological Society; [FAA] Acquisition Management System; 

Autonomous Modular Sensor; Analysis and Modeling Subsystem

AMSR Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer

AMSR-E [Aqua satellite] Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-E

AMU Applied Meteorology Unit

ANG Air National Guard

ANSP Air Navigation Service Provider

AO Announcement of Opportunity

AOC [NOAA] Aircraft Operations Center

AOML Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory

AOR Area of Responsibility

ARL [NOAA] Air Resources Laboratory

ARM Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility

ARS Agricultural Research Service

ARTCC Air Route Traffic Control Center

ASCC Army Service Component Commands

ASNE MSEA [DOD] Air and Space Natural Environment Modeling and Simulation Executive Agent

ASOS Automated Surface Observing System

ASR Atmospheric System Research [activity in DOE/CESD]; Airport Surveillance Radar

A-2
Appendix A - Acronyms

ASR-11 Airport Surveillance Radar Model 11

ASR-9 Airport Surveillance Radar Model 9

ASWON Automated Surface Weather Observation Network

ATCSCC Air Traffic Control System Command Center

ATD atmospheric transport and dispersion

ATDD Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division [NOAA]

ATEC U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command

ATLAS Autonomous Temperature Line Acquisition System

ATM Air Traffic Management

ATO Air Traffic Organization [FAA]

ATOP Advanced Technologies and Oceanic Procedures

ATOS Applications, Transactions, and Observations Subsystem

AWC [NOAA/NECEP] Aviation Weather Center

AWG Aviation Weather Group [FAA]

AWIPS Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System

AWOS Automated Weather Observing System

AWOS III-P/T Automated Weather Observing System [variant of AWOS]

AWRP Aviation Weather Research Program [FAA]

AWRT Advanced Weather Radar Technique

AWSD Aviation Weather Services Directorate

AWSS Automated Weather Sensors Systems

BASC Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate

BCTP Battle Command Training Program

BIA Bureau of Indian Affairs

BLM Bureau of Land Management

BonD Battlespace on Demand

CAC [U.S. Army] Combined Arms Center

CAgM [WMO] Commission for Agricultural Meteorology

CALIPSO Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations

CAP Civil Air Patrol; Common Alerting Protocol

CASR Committee for Aviation Services and Research

CBRNE chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive

CCAFS Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

CCMC Community Coordinated Modeling Center

CCSP U.S. Climate Change Science Program

CDMP Climate Database Modernization Program

CDR climate data record

CEDAR Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions

CEISC Committee on Environmental Information Systems and Communications

CENR [NSTC] Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

CENRS [NSTC] Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainability

CERIS Coastal, Estuary Resource Information System

A-3
Appendix A - Acronyms

CESD Climate and Environmental Sciences Division [DOE Office of Science]

CESM Community Earth System Model

CESORN Committee on Environmental Services, Operations, and Research Needs

CFC chlorofluorocarbon

CFSR Climate Forecast System Reanalysis

CHPS Community Hydrologic Prediction System

CI-FLOW Coastal-Inland Flood Observation and Warning

CICE DOE/OS/CESD sea ice model

CICS Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites

CICS-NC Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites North Carolina

CIOS Committee for Integrated Observing Systems

CIP Current Icing Product

CISM Community Ice Sheet Model (DOE/OS/CESD)

CJMTK Commercial Joint Mapping Tool Kit

CLASS Comprehensive Large-Array data Stewardship System

CLIVAR Climate Variability and Predictability Experiment

CMAQ Community Multi-scale Air Quality

CMAS Commercial Mobile Alert System

CMD-P Computer Meteorological Data-Profiler

CME coronal mass ejection(s)

CMIP5 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5

CMS Carbon Monitoring System

CNMOC Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command

CNO Chief of Naval Operations

COAMPS Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System

COASTAL Coastal Oceanographic Applications and Services for Tides and Lakes

CoCoRaHS Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow [network]

COLA Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies

COMNAVMETOCCOM Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command

CONPLAN Concept of Operations Plan

COOP Cooperative Observer Program

CO-OPS Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services

COPC Committee for Operational Processing Centers

CORMS Continuous Operational Real-time Monitoring System

COSIM Climate, Ocean and Sea Ice Modeling Project

COSMIC-2 Constellation Observing System for Meteorology Ionosphere and Climate-2

CPC Climate Prediction Center

CPP Command Post Platform

CSD [NOAA/NWS] Climate Services Division

CSESMO Committee for Space Environmental Sensor Mitigation Options

CVA Ceiling and Visibility, Analysis [FAA/AWRP]

CVF Ceiling and Visibility, Forecast [FAA/AWRP]

CWSU Center Weather Service Unit

A-4
Appendix A - Acronyms

DAC [AOML] Data Assembly Center; Department of the Army Civilian

DAPE Data Acquisition, Processing, and Exchange

DASI Digital Altimeter Setting Indicator

DATMS Defense Information Switched Network Asynchronous Transfer Mode System

DEM digital elevation model

DHS U.S. Department of Homeland Security

DMCC DOE Meteorological Coordinating Council

DMSP Defense Meteorological Satellite Program

DOC U.S. Department of Commerce

DOD U.S. Department of Defense

DOE U.S. Department of Energy

DOI U.S. Department of the Interior

DOMSAT domestic communication satellite

DOS U.S. Department of State

DOT U.S. Department of Transportation

DOTMLPF doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership, education, personnel, and facilities

DPG Dugway Proving Ground

DSCOVR Deep Space Climate Observatory

DTC Developmental Test Center; [U.S. Army] Developmental Test Command

DTRA Defense Threat Reduction Agency

DTSS Digital Topographic Support System

EAS Emergency Alert System

EcoFOCI Ecosystem-Fisheries Oceanography Coordinated Investigations

ECV Essential Climate Variables

EdIWG [CCSP] Education Interagency Working Group

ELV Expendable Launch Vehicle(s)

EMC [NOAA/NCEP] Environmental Modeling Center

EMI SIG Emergency Management Issues Special Interest Group

EMSL Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

EOSDIS Earth Observing System Data and Information System

EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPI Enhanced Precipitation Identification

ERAM En Route Automation Modernization

ERC [hurricane] eyewall replacement cycles

ERDC [USACE] Engineer Research and Development Center

EROS [USGS] Earth Resources Observation and Science [center]

ESM [DOE/OS/CESD] Earth System Models

ESRL Earth System Research Laboratory

ESS Environmental Sensor Station(s)

ESTP [NASA] Earth Science Technology Program

ET evapotranspiration

EUMETSAT European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites

A-5
Appendix A - Acronyms

FAA Federal Aviation Administration

FAR false alarm rate

FCAMMS Fire Consortia for Advanced Modeling of Meteorology and Smoke

FCMSSR Federal Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research

FEC Fire Executive Council

FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency

FFMP Flash Flood Monitoring and Prediction

FHWA Federal Highway Administration

FIP Forecast Icing Product

FMF Fleet Marine Force

FNMOC Navy Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center

FOR Flight Operations Review

FPAW Friends/Partners in Aviation Weather

FRA Federal Railroad Administration

FRD [NOAA/ARL] Field Research Division

FSR Forest Service Research

FTE full-time equivalent

FWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

FY fiscal year

GACC Geographic Area Coordinating Center

GBS Global Broadcast Service

GCOS Global Climate Observing System

GEM Geospace Environment Modeling

GEOSS Global Earth Observation System of Systems

GFDL Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory [NOAA-associated]

GFDN Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Navy [model]

GHCN-M Global Historical Climatology Network-Monthly

GIS geographic information system

GLD Global Lagrangian Drifters

GLERL Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory

GLOBE Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment

GMD [NOAA/OAR/ESRL] Global Monitoring Division

GODAE Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment

GOES Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite

GOES-R Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R

GOOS Global Ocean Observing System

GOSIC Global Observing Systems Information Center

GPS Global Positioning System

GPS-Met GPS-Meteorology

GRA GOOS Regional Alliances

GRIP Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes [NASA project]

GSD [ESRL] Global Systems Division

GTGN Graphical Turbulence Guidance Nowcast

A-6
Appendix A - Acronyms

GTOS Global Terrestrial Observing System

GTS Global Telecommunications System

HALE high altitude, long-endurance [UAS]

HAZUS Multi-Hazard Loss Estimation Methodology

HCFC hydrochlorofluorocarbon

HEL high-energy laser

HELSTF High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility

HF high frequency

HFIP Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project

HFPP HRD Field Program Plan

HHWWS Heat Health Watch Warning Systems

HMR [Nuclear Regulatory Commission] hydrometeorological report(s)

HMT Hydrometeorological Testbed

HPC [NPAA/NCEP] Hydrometeorological Prediction Center

HPCMP [DOD] High Performance Computing Modernization Program

HQDA Headquarters, Department of the Army

HRD [NOAA/OMAO] Hurricane Research Division

HSPD Homeland Security Presidential Directive

HWRF Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting

HYPOP Hybrid Coordinate Parallel Ocean Program [DOE model]

HYSPLIT Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory [ATD model]

IBTrACS International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship

ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization

ICESCAPE Impacts of Climate on Ecosystems and Chemistry of the Arctic Pacific Environment

ICMSSR Interdepartmental Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research

ICOADS International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set

IFEX Intensity Forecast Experiment

IHC Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference

IIP International Ice Patrol

IMAAC Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center

IMET Incident Meteorologist

IMETS Integrated Meteorological System

IMPROVE Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments [program]

INL Idaho National Laboratory

IPAWS Integrated Public Alert and Warning System

IPB intelligence preparation of the battlespace

IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

IPE intelligence preparation of the environment

IRTSS Infrared Target Scene Simulator

ISCS International Satellite Communications System

ISES International Space Environment Service

ISMS [DOE] Integrated Safety Management System

A-7
Appendix A - Acronyms

ISR intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance

ISS International Space Station

IT information technology

IT R&D Information Technology Research and Development [Program]

ITS Intelligent Transportation Systems

ITWS Integrated Terminal Weather System

IWEDA Integrated Weather Decision Aid

IWGCCST Interagency Working Group on Climate Change Science and Technology

IWRSS Integrated Water Resources Science and Services

JAG Joint Action Group

JAG/ADM Joint Action Group on Architecture and Data Management (

JAG/CCM Joint Action Group for Centralized Communications Management

JAG/JUTB Joint Action Group for Joint Urban Test Beds

JAG/MD Joint Action Group on Metadata

JAG/OCM Joint Action Group for Operational Community Modeling 

JAG/ODAA Joint Action Group for Operational Data Acquisition for Assimilation

JAWF Joint Agricultural Weather Facility

JAWS Juneau Airport Wind System

JCIDS Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System

JCSDA Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation

JHT Joint Hurricane Testbed

JPDO Joint Planning and Development Office

JPSS Joint Polar Satellite System

JSC [NASA] Johnson Space Center

JTWC Joint Typhoon Warning Center

KDP Key Decision Point

KSC [NASA] Kennedy Space Center

KSCWO SOMD Weather Office at NASA Kennedy Space Center

LAN local area network

LAP Lightning Advisory Panel

LBS Littoral Battlespace Sensing

LDCM Landsat Data Continuity Mission

LIDAR light detection and ranging 

LLCC lightning launch commit criteria

LLWAS Low Level Wind shear Alerting System

LLWAS-NE LLWAS Network Expansion

LRGS [USGS] local readout ground station(s)

M&O management and operating

MACPEX Mid-latitude Airborne Cirrus Properties Experiment

MADA Monsoon Area Drought Atlas

A-8
Appendix A - Acronyms

MADIS Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System 

MAGTF Marine Air Ground Task Force

MALE medium altitude, long endurance [UAS]

MASPS Minimum Aviation Safety Performance Standards

MAW Marine Aircraft Wing

MEF Marine Expeditionary Force 

MET meteorological; Meteorology and Oceanography

MetMF(R) Meteorological Mobile Facility-Replacement

METOC meteorological and oceanographic

METOP Meteorological Operational Polar

METSAT meteorological satellite

MM5 Mesoscale Model Version 5

MMS-P Meteorological Measurement Set-Profiler

MOC [NextGen] Mid-term Operational Capability

MODIS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

MOPS Minimum Operations Standards

MOU memorandum of understanding

MPAR multifunction phased array radar

MPCV Multipurpose Crew Vehicle

MRMS [FAA/AWRP] Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor [capability]

MSFC Marshall Space Flight Center

MST METOC Support Team

MTOE Modified Table of Organization and Equipment

MTSAT [Japanese] Multifunctional Transport Satellite

MWPI Microburst Windspeed Potential Index

MWSG Marine Wing Support Group

MWSS Marine Wing Support Squadron

NADM North American Drought Monitor

NADP National Atmospheric Deposition Program

NAO NOAA Administrative Order

NAS National Airspace System

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASS National Agricultural Statistics Service

NAVOCEANO Naval Oceanographic Office

NAVOCEANOPSCOM Naval Oceanography Operations Command

NBC nuclear, biological, and chemical

NCA National Climate Assessment

NCAR National Center for Atmospheric Research

NCDC National Climatic Data Center

NCEP National Centers for Environmental Prediction 

NCOM Navy Coastal Ocean Model

NCV National Ceiling and Visibility [FAA/AWRP Product Team]

NDBC National Data Buoy Center

A-9
Appendix A - Acronyms

NDFD National Digital Forecast Database

NDMC National Drought Mitigation Center

NEB Natural Environments Branch [MSFC]

NESDIS [NOAA] National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service

NEXION NEXt-generation IONosonde

NEXRAD Next-Generation Weather Radar

NextGen Next Generation Air Transportation System

NFDRS National Fire Danger Rating System

NFIP National Flood Insurance Program

NGA National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

NGDC National Geophysical Date Center

NGEE Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments

NHC [NCEP] National Hurricane Center

NICC National Interagency Coordination Center

NIDIS National Integrated Drought Information System

NIFA National Institute for Food and Agriculture

NIFC National Interagency Fire Center

NITES Navy Integrated Tactical Environmental System

NNEW NextGen Network Enabled Weathe

NNSA National Nuclear Security Administration

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOCMP National Operational Coastal Modeling Program

NODC National Oceanographic Data Center

NOGAPS Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System

NOHRSC National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center

NOMADS National Operational Model Archive and Distribution System

NOP Naval Oceanography Program

NOPC National Operational Processing Centers Program Council

NORAD North American Aerospace Defense Command

NOS National Ocean Service

NOWCON Network of Weather and Climate Observing Networks

NPDIA National Plan for Disaster Impact Assessments: Weather and Water Data

NPOESS National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System

NPP NPOESS Preparatory Project 

NPRB North Pacific Research Board

NPS National Park Service

NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission; National Research Council

NRCC [FEMA] National Response Coordination Center

NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service

NRL Naval Research Laboratory

NRL/MRY Marine Meteorology Division of the Naval Research Laboratory [NRL Monterey]

NSF National Science Foundation

NSIP National Streamflow Information Program

NSIR Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response

A-10
Appendix A - Acronyms

NSPD National Security Presidential Directive

NSSL [NOAA] National Severe Storm Laboratory

NSWP National Space Weather Program

NSWRC NextGen Surveillance and Weather Radar Capability

NTAS Northwest Tropical Atlantic Station

NTHMP National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program

NUOPC National Unified Operational Prediction Capability

NWCG National Wildfire Coordinating Group

NWIS National Water Information System

NWLON National Water Level Observation Network

NWP numerical weather prediction 

NWR NOAA Weather Radio

NWRT National Weather Radar Testbed

NWS [NOAA] National Weather Service

OAR [NOAA] Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research

OCE (USDA) Office of the Chief Economist

ODCS [U.S. Army] Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff

OEP Operational Evolution Partnership [FAA airport designation]

OFCM Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research

OGC Open Geospatial Consortium

OMAO [NOAA] Office of Marine and Aviation Operations

OMB Office of Management and Budget

ONR Office of Naval Research

OPC Ocean Prediction Center

OSSE observing system simulation experiment

OSTEP Ocean Systems Test and Evaluation Program

OSTM Ocean Surface Topography Mission

OSTP Office of Science and Technology Policy

OTN [Defense Information Systems Agency] Optical Transport Network

OTSR Optimum Track Ship Routing

OWS [USAF] Operational Weather Squadron

P3I Pre-Planned Product Improvement

PACAF Pacific Air Forces

PARISE Phased Array Radar Innovative Sensing Experiment

PCMDI Program for Climate Model Diagnosis and Intercomparison

PLAN Personal Localized Alert Network

PMEL Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory

PNE PIRATA Northeast Extension [project]

POD probability of detection

POES Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite

POP Parallel Ocean Program [DOE/OS/CESD model]

POPS Primary Oceanographic Prediction System

A-11
Appendix A - Acronyms

PORTS® Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System

PREDICT Pre-Depression Investigation of Cloud-systems in the Tropics

PSD [ESRL] Physical Sciences Division

PTWC Pacific Tsunami Warning Center

QPE quantitative precipitation estimation(s)

QPF quantitative precipitation forecast

R&D research and development

R2O Research to Operations

RASCAL Radiological Assessment System for Consequence Analysis

RAWS Remote Automated Weather Stations (network)

RBSP Ring Current, Radiation Belts, Solar Particles [satellite]

RDT&E research development, test, and evaluation

RES Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

RFC [NWS] River Forecast Center

RGCM Regional and Global Climate Modeling [in DOE/OS/CESD]

RIMS Radio Interference Measuring Set

ROMANS Rocky Mountain Atmospheric Nitrogen and Sulfur

ROSES [NASA] Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences

RPA Remotely Piloted Aircraft

RSMC Regional Specialized Meteorological Center

RSTN Radio Solar Telescope Network

RTC Redstone Test Center

RTS Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site

RTVS Real-Time Verification System

RUC Rapid Update Cycle [NWS forecast model]

RVR Runway Visual Range

RWI Reduce Weather Impact

RWMP Road Weather Management Program

SAFETEA-LU Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users

SAS [NextGen] Single Authoritative Source

SAWS Stand Alone Weather Sensors [FAA]

SCAN Soil Climate Analysis Network

SCAP Security Certification and Accreditation Package

SCAPA Subcommittee for Consequence Assessment and Protective Actions

SDO Solar Dynamics Observatory

SDR [CENRS] Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction

SEBN Surface Energy Budget Network

SEES Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability

SEON Solar Electro-optical Observing Network

SERVIR Sistema Regional de Visualizacion y Monitoreo [NASA network]

SESAR Single European Sky ATM Research

A-12
Appendix A - Acronyms

SFMR stepped frequency microwave radiometer

SGOT Strike Group Oceanography Team

SHINE Solar, Heliospheric, and Interplanetary Environment

SICPS Standard Integrated Command Post Shelter

SIP Societal Impacts Program

SIR System Integration Review

SLEP Service Life Extension Program

SLOSH Sea, Lake and Overland Surges from Hurricanes [storm surge model]

SMAP [NASA] Soil Moisture Active-Passive [Satellite Mission]

SMD [NASA] Science Mission Directorate

SMDC [U.S. Army] Space and Missile Defense Command

SMG [NWS] Spaceflight Meteorology Group

SNOTEL SNOw pack TELemetry

SOF Special Operations Forces

SOHO Solar and Heliospheric Observatory

SOMD [NASA] Space Operations Mission Directorate

SOON Solar Observing Optical Network

SOOP Ship of Opportunity Program

SORD [NOAA/ARL] Special Operations and Research Division

SPC [NCEP] Storm Prediction Center 

SRS Solar Radio Spectrograph

SST sea surface temperature

SSWSF Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program

STAR Center for Satellite Applications and Research

STEM Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

STEREO Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory

STIWG Satellite Telemetry Interagency Working Group

SWEF Space Weather Enterprise Forum

SWIM [NextGen] System Wide Information Management

SWPC Space Weather Prediction Center

SWSI State Surface Water Supply Index(es)

TAF Terminal Aerodrome Forecast

TAO Tropical Atmosphere-Ocean [Project]

TAO/TRITON Tropical Atmosphere-Ocean/TRIangle Trans-Ocean buoy Network

TAWS Target Acquisition Weapons Software

TDA Tactical Decision Aid

TDWR Terminal Doppler Weather Radar

TFCC Task Force Climate Change

T-IWEDA Tri-Service Integrated Weather Effects Decision Aid

TMC traffic management center

TOC Tactical Operations Center

TOE Table of Organization and Equipment

TRADOC U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command

A-13
Appendix A - Acronyms

TRMM Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission

TSG thermosalinograph

TSO Technical Standard Order [FAA]

UAS unmanned aircraft systems; unmanned aerial systems

UHF ultrahigh frequency

UNEP United Nations Environment Program

UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

UNOLS University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System

UNSWC Unified National Space Weather Capability

URI University of Rhode Island

USA U.S. Army

USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

USAF U.S. Air Force

USAICoE U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence

USARNORTH U. S. Army North

USASMDC U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command

USCG U.S. Coast Guard

USCRN U.S. Climate Reference Network

USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture

USDM U.S. Drought Monitor

USFF U.S. Fleet Forces Command

USFS U.S. Forest Service

USGCRP U.S. Global Change Research Program

USGS U.S. Geological Survey

USHCN U.S. Historical Climatology Network

USNO U.S. Naval Observatory

USNORTHCOM U.S. Northern Command

USWRP U.S. Weather Research Program

UV ultraviolet

VAAC Volcanic Ash Advisory Center

VAFB Vandenberg Air Force Base

VFR visual flight rules

VORTEX2 Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment 2

VOS Volunteer Observing System

WAFS World Area Forecast System

WAMIS World AgroMeteorological Information Service

WAOB World Agricultural Outlook Board

WARP Weather And Radar Processor [FAA]

WASDE World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates [report]

WC/ATWC West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center

WEBB Water, Energy, and Biogeochemical Budgets

A-14
Appendix A - Acronyms

WFDSS Wildland Fire Decision Support System

WFIP Wind Forecast Improvement Project

WFO National Weather Service Forecast Office

WG/DIAP Working Group for Disaster Impact Assessments and Plans: Weather and Water Data (

WG/TBC Working Group for Test Bed Coordination

WG/UM Working Group for Urban Meteorology

WG/VA Working Group on Volcanic Ash

WG/WIST Working Group on Weather Information for Surface Transportation

WGA Western Governors’ Association

WHDE Wind Hazard Detection Equipment

WIFS WAFS Internet File Service

WIMS weather information management system

WIS WMO Information Service

WMO World Meteorological Organization

WoF Warn on Forecast [Program]

WP Work Product

WRAP Wildfire Research and Applications Partnership

WRD [USGS] Water Resources Discipline

WRE-N Weather Running Estimate-Nowcasts

WRF Weather Research and Forecasting

WRTM Weather-Responsive Traffic Management

WS [USAF] Weather Squadron

WSDS Wind Shear Detection Services

WSP [FAA] Weather Systems Processor

WSR-88D Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler

WTIC Weather Technology in the Cockpit

WUI Wildland-Urban Interface

WW3 Wave Watch III [model]

WWCB Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin

WWLLN World Wide Lightning Locator Network

WXG [USAF] Weather Group

XBT Expendable BathyThermograph [Program]

A-15
Agency Points of Contact

U.S. Department of Agriculture Mr. Mark Brusberg

Dr. Harlan Shannon

Department of Commerce 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ms. Aria Remondi

 National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service Ms. Kelly Turner

Ms. Lisa Heilmeier

 National Ocean Service Mr. Darren Wright

Mr. Jason Shadid

 National Weather Service Mr. Patrick Nield 

Ms. Sreela Nandi 

 Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Mr. Richard Fulton

Ms. Melissa Pratt-Zossoungbo

 Office of Marine and Aviation Operations LT David Gothan

Mr. Jeffrey Weir

Department of Defense Lt Col Daniel Weekley

Ms. Marsha Korose 

Joint Staff Lt Col Kyle Bellue

 U.S. Air Force Mr. Ralph Stoffler

 U.S. Navy Mr. Philip Vinson 

 U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jeff Wooldridge

 U.S. Army Mr. William Spendley

Department of Energy Mr. Rick Petty

Mr. Vaughn Standley

Mr. Joel Cline

Department of Homeland Security 

Federal Emergency Management Agency Mr. Daniel Porter (NOAA Liaison)

U.S. Coast Guard Dr. Jonathan Berkson

Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey Mr. Robert Mason 

National Park Service Mr. John Vimont 

Bureau of Land Management

 Office of Fire and Aviation Mr. Grant Beebe

 Office of Soil Water and Air Dr. Larisa Ford

Department of State Dr. David Reidmiller

Department of Transportation

Federal Aviation Administration Mr. Richard Lee

Federal Highway Administration Mr. Paul Pisano 

Federal Railroad Administration Mr. Jared Withers

Environmental Protection Agency Dr. Rohit Mathur

Mr. Thomas Pierce

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Dr. Tsengdar Lee

Ms. Elizabeth Yoseph

National Science Foundation Mr. Nicholas Anderson 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mr. Jason White

Smithsonian Institution Dr. Benjamin Andrews